As we speak, Chris is at his first official school social ... Winterball. In fact, it should be getting out any minute. He ended up taking a fellow percussionist, Megan, to the event Chris wore a really nice dark gray dress shirt with khaki pants, and I’m not sure what Megan wore cause as of a few days ago she didn’t have anything to wear yet … I’ll just have to wait to see the pictures. As for the flowers, they went with white roses, so I ordered her a French bouquet. Megan got Chris a maili lei with a strand of pikake. They’ll be spending the rest of the night in Waikiki with everyone else who sat at their table, and a few others.
In a few hours, I will be finishing up my baking. I got the day off from work, which is a good thing cause I am exhausted. I was going to deliver all the baked stuff Monday morning, but I think I will do it today instead.
Logi – I wish I was there to help you with what you are going through … my prayers are with you, and I hope things get better real soon. Love ya sistah!
Well, I got a turkey to cook, so I’m outta here …
Hapa
Friday, December 21, 2001
I think being a single mom is one of the hardest things in the world. For one thing, the odds of your kids having issues, whether it is drugs or some kind of emotional trauma are higher than kids with both parents in the home … or so the statistics say. I have been on my own with the kids since Chris was 2 years old. I raised my children by myself. Sure, Chris sees his father every other weekend, but I raised him and I have done everything possible to ensure a bright future for he and his sister. I know Chris’ dad loves him with all his heart, but he has no sense in raising children. If something had happened to me that would have left Chris to be raised by his father, I know for a fact that Chris would not be where he is today. Let me fill you in on the morals of his father’s side of the family. Chris’ dad has 4 sisters and 3 brothers. Combined, Chris has about 20 or 21 cousins. The ages of his cousins range from about 40 years old down to 8 years old. Of all of his cousins, there are only 4 of them that are younger than he is, one is a senior in high school, and the rest are 19 and over. Of all of his cousins, only two went on to further their education … one went to a business college, ended up being a stay at home mom, the other went to a community college but didn’t finish. You might be asking ‘what happened to the other cousins’? Let me tell you. All but one of the female cousins had a kid either their junior or senior year in high school, and the male cousins got their girlfriends pregnant around the time they graduated. As for GPA’s … from what I am told, they all averaged 2.0 or below … some graduated by the skin of their butt. I’d be rolling in my grave if Chris turned out like that. Sianna’s story is a little complicated, she never knew her dad … it’s a long story that some of you already know. Perhaps one day I’ll talk about it. One of the few things that Chris’ dad did that I admire him for is that he took Sianna in as one of own. Despite all the fighting and battling we did in divorce court … for almost 4 years … when the dust settled, he treated Sianna like his own. Now he’s become one of several important male figures in her life.
Going back to what I was talking about …
For the past couple of years Chris has been complaining to me that I have been butting in too much where his social life is concerned. Not so much about going out with friends … he just wanted me to butt out where his school life is concerned. From the 5th grade I have pushed him to get involved in extra curricular activities. I have explained to him that in the long run it will look really well in future college applications. So, to shut me up (as he put it) he joined several organizations and ran for office when he entered intermediate school (middle school). In the 7th grade he was class Treasurer. In the 8th grade he was Student Government Vice President. Now he’s 9th grade class Vice President. He wants to take a break his sophomore and junior year to do other things … I really don’t want him to, but I think I need to let go and let him make decisions for himself … and let me tell you, it’s really going to irritate me if he doesn’t run for anything. He will run for Class President for his senior year … and he will win too. He has been in band (percussion) since the 7th grade and is one of the top players in his age category in the state. He has always maintained at least a 3.8 gpa, except for this year … his first and second quarter gpa has been about short of a 3.5. He’s on the wrestling and judo team and wants to go out for cross-country next year. Overall, as you can see, he’s a really good boy … he just has a mouth on him.
Sianna is only in the 5th grade and there’s not much extra curricular-wise that she can do yet. She is enrolled in honors math and does really well in her science class. She’s still trying to figure out what she wants to do for a living. She’s already telling me to butt out … we’ll see.
I have always been proud of my kids, but what I got in the mail today really made me proud of Chris. In the last couple of years, the high school he attends has this program called Natural Helpers. From what I gather, and I’ll find out more at the January 15th meeting, it’s kinda like a mentoring/counseling type thing … where the students can go to their peers for help with their problems. They assists the grade level counselors in helping students. Anyway, earlier in the school year, a survey went out to all grade levels and some of the questions on the survey asked if anyone they know were having issues and was afraid to seek help, if they felt comfortable going to others with their problems, and to name a student they felt they could go to for help. Well, according to the letter I received today, it mentioned that, overwhelmingly, Chris’ name came up many times. His peers said that they could trust and turn to him if they needed help. If he accepts, he will be trained on specific concerns and resources. The initial training will be in a retreat setting, then will continue with ongoing sessions. For as long as I can remember, friends have always gone to him for advice or to settle a dispute. After I showed him the letter, I reminded him of how proud I am of him and he actually thanked me for ‘butting in’ all of these years. He finally realizes that the things he does in school, especially the things I nag him about, will look especially well on any college application.
I’ve worked hard and made some sacrifices … all for the sake of my children’s future. Even with the odds stacked against me, my kids are turning out pretty damn good. I love them with all of my heart, and there is really nothing I wouldn’t do for them.
On that note, I wish all of you a great weekend!
Aloha,
Hapa
Going back to what I was talking about …
For the past couple of years Chris has been complaining to me that I have been butting in too much where his social life is concerned. Not so much about going out with friends … he just wanted me to butt out where his school life is concerned. From the 5th grade I have pushed him to get involved in extra curricular activities. I have explained to him that in the long run it will look really well in future college applications. So, to shut me up (as he put it) he joined several organizations and ran for office when he entered intermediate school (middle school). In the 7th grade he was class Treasurer. In the 8th grade he was Student Government Vice President. Now he’s 9th grade class Vice President. He wants to take a break his sophomore and junior year to do other things … I really don’t want him to, but I think I need to let go and let him make decisions for himself … and let me tell you, it’s really going to irritate me if he doesn’t run for anything. He will run for Class President for his senior year … and he will win too. He has been in band (percussion) since the 7th grade and is one of the top players in his age category in the state. He has always maintained at least a 3.8 gpa, except for this year … his first and second quarter gpa has been about short of a 3.5. He’s on the wrestling and judo team and wants to go out for cross-country next year. Overall, as you can see, he’s a really good boy … he just has a mouth on him.
Sianna is only in the 5th grade and there’s not much extra curricular-wise that she can do yet. She is enrolled in honors math and does really well in her science class. She’s still trying to figure out what she wants to do for a living. She’s already telling me to butt out … we’ll see.
I have always been proud of my kids, but what I got in the mail today really made me proud of Chris. In the last couple of years, the high school he attends has this program called Natural Helpers. From what I gather, and I’ll find out more at the January 15th meeting, it’s kinda like a mentoring/counseling type thing … where the students can go to their peers for help with their problems. They assists the grade level counselors in helping students. Anyway, earlier in the school year, a survey went out to all grade levels and some of the questions on the survey asked if anyone they know were having issues and was afraid to seek help, if they felt comfortable going to others with their problems, and to name a student they felt they could go to for help. Well, according to the letter I received today, it mentioned that, overwhelmingly, Chris’ name came up many times. His peers said that they could trust and turn to him if they needed help. If he accepts, he will be trained on specific concerns and resources. The initial training will be in a retreat setting, then will continue with ongoing sessions. For as long as I can remember, friends have always gone to him for advice or to settle a dispute. After I showed him the letter, I reminded him of how proud I am of him and he actually thanked me for ‘butting in’ all of these years. He finally realizes that the things he does in school, especially the things I nag him about, will look especially well on any college application.
I’ve worked hard and made some sacrifices … all for the sake of my children’s future. Even with the odds stacked against me, my kids are turning out pretty damn good. I love them with all of my heart, and there is really nothing I wouldn’t do for them.
On that note, I wish all of you a great weekend!
Aloha,
Hapa
Wednesday, December 19, 2001
Cookies!! … cookies!! … cookies!! This house smells like a freakin bakery. And my feet hurt from standing all day. In the past couple of days I got a few more pie orders, so now I have to head back out to the grocer for more ingredients … blah!
My children, both, of whom I carried in my womb for 9 months, are conspiring against me. Chris, as a freshman in high school is taking his first year Spanish. He insists that he won’t be taking anymore Spanish after this year. He plans on taking Japanese for the next three years he will have left in high school. He’s pretty good at Spanish, speaks it well for a first year student. He is already teaching himself some Japanese along with the help of his friends. In the last year he has taught himself to read, write, and speak Korean. This is where the conspiracy comes in. He’s been teaching Sianna a little bit of Korean, and they both want to take private classes together. Their plan is to talk crap behind my back. I never learned Korean. I do know all of the swear words though. There was no one around to teach me. Sure, because my mom was pure Korean you would think she’d be the one to take the task. Frick that … the only way I was to learn was by figuring out myself what she was saying when she had her friends over. So, I ended up taking 4 years of Japanese and two years of French when I was in high school. I do not recommend taking on two different languages at the same time. I worked DAMN hard in those classes … and I was still able to maintain my ‘A’ average … barely. I still know Katakana and Hiragana (I forgot all of the Kanji), so I’ve been able to help Chris with that.
Well, the kids officially started their winter break. They have a month off from school. They are going to drive me nuts! Sianna is, anyway. Chris is pretty good at going out with his friends. Speaking of Chris, the high school’s Winter Ball is on this Saturday. He and his date have been at the mall all week looking for her clothes. I have already ordered flowers for Chris and I’m taking him later today to get his hair cut. Chris practically bought the first thing he saw. He’s wearing a nice gray shirt with khaki pants. I know what you’re thinking … gray?? That’s what he and his date decided on, gray. The flowers I ordered for his date is a French bouquet made of white roses. Gawd, I’m starting to feel my age. I can still remember my first Winter Ball … some 22 years ago.
As much as I would like to stroll down memory lane … break is over and I have to get back to my cookies.
Think of me when you eat your next chocolate chip cookie, ok?
I’m outties …
Hapa
My children, both, of whom I carried in my womb for 9 months, are conspiring against me. Chris, as a freshman in high school is taking his first year Spanish. He insists that he won’t be taking anymore Spanish after this year. He plans on taking Japanese for the next three years he will have left in high school. He’s pretty good at Spanish, speaks it well for a first year student. He is already teaching himself some Japanese along with the help of his friends. In the last year he has taught himself to read, write, and speak Korean. This is where the conspiracy comes in. He’s been teaching Sianna a little bit of Korean, and they both want to take private classes together. Their plan is to talk crap behind my back. I never learned Korean. I do know all of the swear words though. There was no one around to teach me. Sure, because my mom was pure Korean you would think she’d be the one to take the task. Frick that … the only way I was to learn was by figuring out myself what she was saying when she had her friends over. So, I ended up taking 4 years of Japanese and two years of French when I was in high school. I do not recommend taking on two different languages at the same time. I worked DAMN hard in those classes … and I was still able to maintain my ‘A’ average … barely. I still know Katakana and Hiragana (I forgot all of the Kanji), so I’ve been able to help Chris with that.
Well, the kids officially started their winter break. They have a month off from school. They are going to drive me nuts! Sianna is, anyway. Chris is pretty good at going out with his friends. Speaking of Chris, the high school’s Winter Ball is on this Saturday. He and his date have been at the mall all week looking for her clothes. I have already ordered flowers for Chris and I’m taking him later today to get his hair cut. Chris practically bought the first thing he saw. He’s wearing a nice gray shirt with khaki pants. I know what you’re thinking … gray?? That’s what he and his date decided on, gray. The flowers I ordered for his date is a French bouquet made of white roses. Gawd, I’m starting to feel my age. I can still remember my first Winter Ball … some 22 years ago.
As much as I would like to stroll down memory lane … break is over and I have to get back to my cookies.
Think of me when you eat your next chocolate chip cookie, ok?
I’m outties …
Hapa
Monday, December 17, 2001
Another birthday has come and gone …
Now with all the silliness behind me, I can seriously concentrate at the next task at hand … the dreaded holiday baking. I should be sleeping … getting rested from the weekend and stuff like that. It’s freakin 2:57 in the a.m. I have to wake up John in an hour cause he’ll be going fishing. Then I have to take the kiddies to school 3 hours after that. Then I was SUPPOSED to start the baking, but fuck that … I’m getting in at least three hours of sleep before I do anything productive today.
Once again a big mahalo to everyone with his or her birthday wishes. I got a big surprise this year from people I hang out with in an AOL chatroom … a bunch of them made me a birthday website with birthday wishes from them. I was balling my eyes out when I was reading what they wrote to me. I was crying so much that I made my daughter cry … the big baby. By the way … anyone want some cake? I got way too much in my fridge.
Now I’m actually getting sleepy so I’ll end here. Have a great week!
Just 364 more days until I’m 37 …
Hapa
Now with all the silliness behind me, I can seriously concentrate at the next task at hand … the dreaded holiday baking. I should be sleeping … getting rested from the weekend and stuff like that. It’s freakin 2:57 in the a.m. I have to wake up John in an hour cause he’ll be going fishing. Then I have to take the kiddies to school 3 hours after that. Then I was SUPPOSED to start the baking, but fuck that … I’m getting in at least three hours of sleep before I do anything productive today.
Once again a big mahalo to everyone with his or her birthday wishes. I got a big surprise this year from people I hang out with in an AOL chatroom … a bunch of them made me a birthday website with birthday wishes from them. I was balling my eyes out when I was reading what they wrote to me. I was crying so much that I made my daughter cry … the big baby. By the way … anyone want some cake? I got way too much in my fridge.
Now I’m actually getting sleepy so I’ll end here. Have a great week!
Just 364 more days until I’m 37 …
Hapa
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