The wheels on the bus go round & round...

Today was Andy's first day riding the bus to school, it was 'special' to say the least. I know you are probably thinking this will be a cute little post about how excited he was, how we all ate breakfast together and sat on the porch happily awaiting the bus...well, you are wrong. It didn't go that way at all...lets just say the eggs are still sitting cracked and waiting to be scrambled and the wheels on the bus, simply stated, weren't the only ones going 'round and round.'

Andy's been wanting to use an alarm clock and begging for batteries so he can get up on his own.
We finally decided to let him give it a try so today was his first (and last for some time) experience waking up to an alarm. We had set the station to a children's morning program--aren't we good parents? yeah actually that was just luck, Andrew thought it was on country haha but even with the good station waking him from sleep the alarm still had the same effect on him that it does on most people, he woke up a full fledged Grump. Oh yeah, he's my kid and I love him, but when he is bad, he is bad...today...he was bad.

'Round 1
I awoke to find him dressed and watching politics on the news, which really is enough to make anyone slightly grumpy in the morning. Seriously, why do they think we want to hear the worlds problems right when we wake up? Can't you just tell us the latest fashion or weather? But Andy can't even use that excuse because although he was indeed watching it, its not like he can understand it...so forget that.

He had on the wrong outfit, not that I'm so controlling I would pick out every outfit..ok I do, but really that wasn't the problem... he has to wear a uniform. Solid polo shirts only and he was in stripes. So we trudged through gettting that one resolved with about a million grunts and "fee's" (which is Russian for 'ew' or 'gross') along the way. Oh and when I say "we" I'm not referring to me and Andrew, I mean me...and my defiant 10yr old son. Andrew comes in later.

'Round 2
Next we move on to what is called 'brush a tee' in our house. That is what he calls brushing his teeth. Yeah, yeah, I know I need to correct it but its so cute...I can't do it yet. Either way somehow he thinks that 'brush a tee' is an option, not something that must be done at least 2xs a day. The funny thing is he actually likes to brush his teeth...he just also likes to win and had said no when he mistakenly thought I was 'asking' him to. Sigh, oh well, I guess I shouldn't say it so nice? jooooking...joooking.

To make a long story somewhat short he ended up laying in the floor crying after he refused to look at me, answer me and cooperate. He ended up losing his bike after he mocked me--that's where my patience started to wear thin. I now get the jokes parents tell about wanting to pull out thier hair...beat their children. Don't get me wrong I would never do such a thing, I'm just sympathizing--so don't send me weird emails about spanking--we aren't spanking him, so you don't have to worry.

'Round 3
Finally I had to get "Dad" to come help. He was greeted this Monday morning by me pulling back the covers and sighing with my hands on my hips--full out 'Mommy Mode.' "You better come help before I lose it, he is being very rude." Andrew comes to the bathroom to see Andy kneeling by the tub with his hands clasped in prayer crying--it really was sad. But before you start feeling too badly for the kid realize, he was trying to make it out to his Dad that I was confused and he really didn't mock me, ignore me and refuse to brush his teeth...see...he was praying. (Oooh how could I miss that? I grew up Pentacostal I should have known better).
"Andy, are you being rude to your Mother?" It was sweet but I had to laugh inside because what kid in his right mind would say yes to that? I mean come on...but, either way it had to be said. Once he saw we were in agreement he finally brushed his teeth...er I mean brush a tee'd. Battle over right....wrong!


'Round 4
Out on the front porch Andy sat on the steps and Andrew and I on the swing. I went in to get him a jacket because it chilly. When I asked him if he wanted it he leaped into my arms and apologized... oh wait no no he didn't thats what I wanted him to do...duh. No instead he scowled at me and looked at his Dad and said "No jacket." Cute isn't it? Yeah I know.... Ok, that hurts but oh well... no jacket, that's ok.

Insert devilish smile...now comes the good part....

You see all morning Andrew was calm while I was just flat out perterbed and a little hurt--I was hiding it of course but it was there. Andrew and I discussed it a little--one of the perks of Andy not being able to speak English fully--and even though he backed me up...etc it still hurts your feelings and your pride. But like I said....this is the good part...

In comes Andy's bad attitude towards his Dad...

I couldn't help but smile to myself when Andy started being just as disrespectful to his Dad as he had me earlier in the bathroom. I just couldn't help it...it was funny. I could see Andrew's bemused smile dissapearing. Again, Andrew is calm and collected as always so Andy has no clue he is getting to his Dad...but oh is he.

He wouldn't sit down to go over his homework and he wouldn't answer him or look at him. So Andrew took him to his room and took out an item, as a punishment. First the beloved radio/alarm clock (which is the evil peice that started this whole mess right?) then the radio/cd player. The first time Andy shrugged replying "harashu" (which is Russian for "good" as in "that's fine, I don't care." Oh and did I mention at this point he would not speak ANY English--it really was somewhat amusing). After Andrew took the CD player Andy threw himself to the floor in a fit and started crying/yelling. He didn't get the results he wanted as his Dad just left the room and let him throw a fit. So then he yells for Andrew to come back. He then had put a third of his favorite things on the nightstand and told Andrew to take it all...he didn't care. With defiance in his glare and his hands on his hips Andy waited to see what his Dad would do....
(wait for it....wait for it....)
Andrew calmly shrugged saying "Ok buddy, I will take it all while you are at school. Right now the bus is here."

Now I'm no mind reader but I have a feeling Andy was dissapointed in that reaction. Nevertheless our happy little family walked the lenght of the driveway to the bus... no camera and no smiling child... We hugged him and told him we loved him as he stiffened and refused to hug back. Then he got on the bus. And that was that. No resolution, no reconcilliation, no time to really even think about it.

Don't think we're leaving you out of an ending...there just really wasn't one. He got on the bus and we went to Chick fil A for a "Victory breakfast" (hahahah the joy of being the parent). Kidding kidding...well kind of kidding. We really did go to chic fil a and we really did enjoy it.
Of course we worried about him, but we also gave Allie (our dog) an extra treat for being so good and so easy, she never fights about brushing her teeth or getting ready :). But overall the remainder of our morning went fine because we know Andy's a good kid and we think he'll be fine. Of course we are also the adults and we know these things happen so we were just worried about him and what he may be thinking. We hoped he'd chuck his bad behavior out the window before he got to school so that it wouldn't carry over. But we just won't know until he gets home....

So there you have it. That was our sweet little boys fisrt day riding the bus. First bus ride to school, first temper tantrum in America and yet he still had to brush his teeth, change his clothes and go to school. In the process he lost ice cream and swimming for one day and the bike for 3--which losing the bike is just as much a punishment to us as it is him...but it had to be done.

So here I sit baring my soul to you all knowing half of you will agree with what we did and the other half, ok or at least my Mom, will think we were too tough :) But that's ok. I have Dr Dobson's Strong Willed Child right here next to me and between me, Andrew and good ol Dobson we'll get this straightened out. I just hope he has an ok day at school and that God doesn't strike me with lightning for silently cracking up at Andrew being snubbed as badly as I was. But hey, what can I say... at least I'm honest--it was funny.

There's no place like home...

"There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home..." If Dorothy can do it why can't I?

Well clicking my heels didn't work, and neither did the chant, but I'm pretty sure it's because I was clicking in flip flops not red heels--and we all know the power of a good pair of red stilletos (I knew I shouldn't have left those, so what if they aren't practical). But either way...we made it WE ARE HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We arrived home on Saturday night around 10pm. Yuri, who now goes by Andy (his choice) saw his Grandmaw (my Mom) and took off running. There in front of us just a few feet past the security gate stood good ol Nashville, TN and a handful of balloons one of which was a UT Balloon--which everyone who knows me knows I am NOT a UT fan...but that is how happy I was to be back, I have never been so happy to see that nasty shade of orange.

I grabbed Andrew's hand as we watched Yuri running with his back pack about to tip him over and with tears in my eyes I whispered "We're home." Andrew sighed and quietly replied "we made it."

So here we are 7 days later and I am just now posting...I know, I know what's my problem. Well if you really must know... Jet Lag.

Man I feel like I've been hit with a ton of bricks. I could sleep til Thanksgiving if it weren't for the fact that well, I'm a Mom now so I have to get up at dawn because frankly its hard to ignore the sound of toys falling from the top shelf and a 10yr old yelling "Mamma!" Even if you are tired and even if the sun has barely just risen... He wants to ride his bike, I mean it is daylight, is that not normal?

So here I am 7 days home, the jet lag slowly leaving and 7 days worth of stories to tell... We've been to the dentist, the grocery, and school--yep, he started school. So I promise if you will bear with me I have some cute stories to tell. I am just trying to find time to write them.

I promise to get to them if you'll promise to still be interested :) Because you've been with us on this journey so long, it just wouldn't feel right if you left. So stay tuned...there's more to come. And thank you for reading and caring and praying for us. You will never know how much it has carried us through.

We are so happy to be home, and so happy to have Andy with us the best way to sum it up is to say again that we made it, we really made it.