It’s back-to-school time, or should be what would normally be back-to-school time, in a normal world, in a normal Fall, during a normal September, which it (let’s face it) is anything BUT. Both my kids have physically grown, grown, GROWN during COVID-19, and consequently NOTHING fits. Not the runners, dress shoes, shirts, pants or cleats. (that is to say IF some form of organized sports in-school gets the green light.) Nothing. Fits. $$$…….

Super-excited to drive to Metrotown, where (thanks, everyone wearing one) 90% of those wandering around are wearing masks, save a few 10% – and this is me being SUPER-judge-y – I would hazard a guess that 50% of the mask-less are just ignorant, Wreck-Beach-attending assholes. (Save your commentary – I know there are a number of individuals who, for completely legit medical reasons cannot wear a mask)

Metrotown is thankfully very organized – spaced out line-ups for the popular stores, security working the lines, and mercifully, (MERCIFULLY!) wicked good sales on shoes and shirts and service. My 13-year old officially has a year for every shoe size, and as a result, if they do have it in his size, it is likely a perfect fit and/or heavily discounted. (YAY!)

***MOMENT OF MATERNAL PRIDE/CONFUSION: I sat in Footlocker listening to the 13-year old and the 20-something year old discuss shoe models, and I was completely and immediately set adrift into “Boomer-era” ignorance. Sigh……..*** 180? 240? 270?

Back to shopping…..for the most part, we achieved success. We were able to tick boxes, fulfill needs, and not completely break the bank. I am lucky. I know we are all lucky. Lucky isn’t the word. We work very hard for what we have, and as essential workers during COVID, we have NOT stopped at any point. We have worked for what we have and we are able to fulfill the needs of our kids. I KNOW there are many, many families out there with no new school clothes, ill-fitting clothes, no school supplies and food insecurity. And that’s before COVID.

On a personal note, and frankly, the raison d’etre of my blog – I, I am overwhelmed. I came home stressed, tense, angry and frustrated, and that was not from the credit card bills. I found the whole experience, exercise, moment, exhausting. Mentally draining, upsetting, sad, mourning what should have been, what could have been, what wasn’t.

What isn’t. What isn’t going to be normal for a fuck of a long time. Sure, I will still drive the kids to school, and oversee lunches, and meal-plan, and delegate, and help with homework, but it still. isn’t. normal.

My kids are exhibiting the cracks of the stress, strain and anxiety of going back to school. I am exhibiting the cracks of the stress, strain and anxiety of going back to school.

Side note – I asked my eldest to water the garden before said shopping trip, and he left the hose on, subsequently flooding the back yard and breaking the hose fitting. I countered with this assignment:

Water:  The consequences of waste

Water covers 70% of our planet, and it is easy to think that it will always be plentiful. However, freshwater—the stuff we drink, bathe in, irrigate our farm fields with—is incredibly rare. Only 3% of the world’s water is fresh water, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for our use.

As a result, some 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water, and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year. Inadequate sanitation is also a problem for 2.4 billion people—they are exposed to diseases, such as cholera and typhoid fever, and other water-borne illnesses. Two million people, mostly children, die each year from diarrheal diseases alone.  –https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/water-scarcity

Your consequence for wasting water and subsequently breaking the water hose attachment is to write a 1000 word essay on water, the precious nature of it, the scarcity of it, the global water shortage, and the consequences of unsafe water sources for people.  

Your essay is to be well written, well thought-out and you must utilize the HAMBURGER model of Topic Sentence/Paragraph, Body 1 (vivids) Body 2 (vivids)  Body 3 (vivids and a well-composed concluding paragraph.  Copying and pasting google searches will NOT be accepted.  This must be RESEARCHED and IN YOUR OWN WORDS.   Remember:  QUOTE YOUR SOURCES!

Your phone will be returned to you once you successfully turn in your assignment.

I could cry with frustration right now, and it’s not because I just realized I killed a box of wine in 3.2 days. Okay, if we are honest, I bought it Monday. Currently writing this Wednesday night. I could kill for some normal, and honestly don’t understand how many more mines I have to go deep. O.M.G.

(On another side note, I feel my consequence was clever. )

On yet another side note, I am tired of counting the lines under my eyes as I look in the rear-view mirror.

As a final note, dear reader, I thank you for listening to me and for being here for me.