My brain is so full I just haven’t known where to start. So I will just start…

• My kids got into the honors classes they wanted. Tuesday was their first day. So far, so good. We will see. I will say they are happy about it. And, they both had homework to do last night. A first this year. And as you might assume, the homework was in their honors classes. So yes, they have more work but no, it doesn’t seem too difficult for them. I think I’m liking being THAT mom.
• I have officially started my holiday shopping. Hold me.
• Little snow flakes are showing up in my weather app on my Google homepage. Not for today but for Friday and Saturday. I have heard there was a sighting of flakes this morning. f.l.a.k.e.s. Not happy. Not ready. And yes, our heat is on already. I do not compete in your furnace wars you foolish ones. I like to be warm. In related news, the kids are still complaining it’s cold in the house.
• It seems the children and I are battling a cold. I’m not sure who is winning at this point.
• SQUEE! GLEE! is on tonight.
• I have now downloaded all 16 Glee songs that are available on Amazon. I may have a sickness. I will not tell you how many times I have listened to Gold Digger on my ipod. There is however a need to point out the absolute brilliance of Mercedes’ (Amber Riley’s) opening of that song. If you have not heard it? I would like to offer my condolences.
• The Halloween costumes have been procured. Only 2 of the children still want to dress up. The other two are wearing masks. At least, that is what they tell me when I say they can’t go beg for candy without some kind of costume. I have also bought extra masks. What are the two littles going to be? A repeat of Indiana Jones that necessitated a new whip and hat. (Old whip was broken and old hat is too small for his GIANT 11 year old noggin.) The littlest little is going to be Dr. Horrible. I predict no one here will know who he is. Except me and the boys. I am okay with this.
• The invites for our Halloween party have not been printed.
• The garage has not been cleaned.
• I predict it will not be warm like it was last year. I predict rain and cold and snow. Glad we had the roof replaced. Also, Jeff ripped out the ceiling and the beams are now exposed making the garage extra spooky. Also, the cobwebs add ambiance. Do not try to dissuade me of this fact.
• I got a call from one of the children telling me he had to stay after school for the next 3 days to make up something or other in band. BAND. Fine, whatever.
• I got another call two hours later telling me he was home and skipped out on his detention that “is not really a detention.” I do not even know what to do with this information.
• Anyone who knows any of my children can identify this particular child. I shall not name names here. Although he may have had a birthday recently.
• One of the children keeps crying. Over EVERYTHING. Surely not everything you say. Yes, EVERYTHING. It is making me weary. Also? I hate nine. Nine and boys do not go together well.

That is all. I have things to do and loins to gird. I’m not sure I want to go home tonight.

Special thanks to Style Lush for introducing me to blonde birdie by which I mean, I will be sending you lovely ladies a framed copy of my bankruptcy report.

For ten years and four kids I’ve tried my best to avoid being “that” mom. You know the one. The one that when the teachers or administrators at school see you coming they groan, run and hide or roll their eyes. I’ve really tried to let them do their jobs and trust them. We live in an excellent school district. In fact, we moved to our current location BECAUSE of the school district.

But…

I have found one problem. I’ve let it slide most of the time. Or rather I’ve addressed the problem and then let it go numerous times. Individual teachers have made it easier to let the issue go. In 98% of cases they’ve done their part. The administration however has refused to do their parts. And now I’m done discussing the issue. I want action.

Maybe I should mention what the problem is. Yes?

The school refuses to challenge my kids. More specifically, my oldest two. They slide by without putting any effort in. They are happy enough getting mostly A’s with the occasional B without doing more than the bare minimum. I am so not okay with this. Now that they are in 8th and 9th grade they need to learn how to work a little. They need to be in a more competitive academic atmosphere. They need to be with kids that work at school and take pride in their grades.

Here’s the thing. My oldest’s friends are all in honors classes. They have been since 7th grade. None of them understand why he isn’t. His father and I don’t understand why he isn’t. The junior high has some formula they use to place kids in honors and apparently he didn’t qualify. Even though he could do the work. We let it slide. I will admit, this was my mistake. I should have gone to the school back in 7th grade. I should have pushed. But I didn’t want to be “that” parent.

Now he’s in high school. He has 100 average in everything 5 weeks in and we told him he needed to talk to the school about getting into an honors class. He needs a challenge. Get this: He AGREED. I told him to pick one subject that they offer as honors. His choices: math, science & social studies. He chose social studies. Now honestly? That is the LAST class I would chose to take an honors version of. In fact, I believe that was my worst subject in school. But that’s what he picked. He spoke to his teacher yesterday and his teacher said he was already looking at moving him into his honors class. All he has to do is ace his unit test this week. Only thing standing in his way? He hasn’t cracked a book. Guess what we’re doing tonight.

My oldest has also said he’d like to try for honors math next year. HIS OWN SUGGESTION. He doesn’t want to do it this year because he thinks it might be too much all at once. I told him the longer he waits the further behind he’s going to get. His response? Geometry is easy. You guys can help me get caught up. To which I replied, “Hell no. I can’t do geometry. I’m the algebra lady.” Yes, it’s true. Geometry is impossible for me but I love Algebra. I know. Odd and GEEK. Whatevs. He says dad can help him.

So see, no need to be “that” mom. Son, taking action himself. I’m so proud.

Now, on to the second child. Oh dear son of mine. He has his head in the clouds most of the time. He is silly and goofy and a more than a little devious.  Good thing he’s so handsome. Makes it easier not to kill him at times. Also, keeps the girls from completely dismissing him.

One other thing he is? A math brain. He is the child that would make me put addition and subtraction problems on our chalkboard at 3. For fun. And he got them right. He would demand more math when I was trying to make dinner. He made up his own math problems on white boards, chalkboards, paper. He could just “see” how numbers worked. He was also the one shouting out the answers to the multiplication problems when I quizzed his older brother before he could even comprehend what I just said. He is the one we’ve been trying to get into honors math since the end of 6th grade.

Last year we fought with the principle over and over. He would not budge. We were told we were forcing our son to do something he didn’t want to do. That we would make him hate math. It was implied that we were being “those” parents. Then they conceded. He could take a math placement test at the end of August. A 90 or above meant honors math.

The fact is he got a 75.

Part of the problem was we were so intent on him studying for his Bar Mitzvah (on September 12th) and going to his Hebrew tutor’s. We didn’t push the math. The math he said he went over. The math practice test he assured us he could do. The day before the exam I realized the error of our ways and brought him to work with me. He worked for five hours. I showed him how to do about 30% of the problems. He got it. He took the exam the next day. He complained there was stuff on it not on the practice test. Four kids took the test.

I know at least one other didn’t pass it with a 90. She got an 80. She studied all summer with three different tutors. He is not in honors math. This is a kid that WANTS to be in honors math. This is a kids that could do it if you just put him in the damn class. The school won’t budge. I was going to give it up. After the exam I did nothing. But now he’s bugging ME about it.

So now it’s time. I’m making yet another appointment with the principal. I’m going to be “that” parent. I’m going to sit there and not budge from my position. I’m going to take a lesson from son #3 and be stubborn. So damn stubborn and not give up. I will not give in. I will wear him down. I will just not take no for an answer. I don’t care about rules and guidelines. There are always exceptions. This is one of those exceptions. It is time.

I know I’ve been MIA. I know no one cares. So I shall pretend it never happened. Onward…

It being fall, I’ve become a bit obsessive with TV. I haven’t watched any TV all summer and now that the nights are getting colder and it is dark at a reasonable time, I get to watch television again! Or you know, now that there are new shows on I shall neglect my responsibilities and watch TV again.

I have gone over the current offerings and put together a little spreadsheet of sorts to list what and when I need to have access to a television. Yes, I know. GEEK. Spreadsheet for tv viewing. Researching schedules and beginning dates of shows – blah, blah, blah.

Anywaaaay, I have realized that the 9-10 hour seems to be where it’s at. I have at least one choice and some nights a back up choice for that time period. So not fair. Not owning a DVR has made Thursday nights unmanageable. I’m really not sure what the solution is other than watching online. Also, Saturday nights (when I’m home, don’t need to get up the next day and have nothing to do) have not a single thing I want to watch on.

Note to television execs: Fix these issues please.

So my absolute favorite new offering – and yes, I have only seen one of the new offerings so far and am still willing to state it is my favorite – GLEE! Oh how I love thee Glee. It makes me happy. Insanely happy. Jane Lynch? Hysterical! All of them really. I have watched the missed episodes online (I only caught the newest one on tv this week.) and have taken to downloading the music from the show. Sad. I know, I know. Just proves what a geek I am. But the show is so funny and fun and makes me want to sing (don’t worry, I won’t – at least not where you can hear me) and I totally want to give all the Glee kids a hug and pat on the head and tell them they’re wonderful. I’d also like to ask Kurt to come to my house and help me put together some outfits. Maybe take me shopping.

I would also like the original Acafellas to get back together now and then. Except for Puck (I guess he’s not an original though). Him, I want to give my most bad-ass mom look and tell him to keep it in his pants and oh yeah, he’s totally grounded.

Other TV viewing plans: Heroes, Castle, HIMYM, Big Bang Theory, Grey’s, Modern Family, The Office, Community/30 Rock and Dollhouse.

Yes, I still watch Grey’s although I missed most of last season. It’s a shame since when I started watching again I realized I liked Izzy with cancer. Much better less annoying than she usually is.

Now I must get back to getting stuff done so I have time to watch Heroes and Castle (Nathan Fillion – YUM!) tonight.