Since the World Didn’t End I Have More Time to Embarrass My Children
Since the world didn’t end on Saturday we can all get back to normal. Unless the world is waiting for the end of the Oprah Show. Then we have three more days.
James and I had a sort of vacation this weekend. We left home all day Friday and Saturday to work at the THSC booth at a homeschool conference. It was like a mini honeymoon, without the romance or beach umbrellas (because all honeymoons in my imagination include beach umbrellas). It was actually nice. We got to spend time with incredible people and meet new homeschoolers and talk about how great the THSC is. My feet hurt, my back hurts and all I want to do is sleep, but otherwise an excellent weekend.
While I was there I met a lovely young lady named Kristiana. She reads the blog (Hi Kristiana and your whole family!). She had the cutest thing in her hair and when I asked about it she told me it was from her etsy shop, fia designs. You go girl! You’ve got mad skills.
At the end of the conference I dragged James out of there like a bullet from a gun. I was desperate to get home and smother the children with hugs and kisses. Two days without seeing them is more than this mamma can take. We walked in the door, OK I can’t lie, we hobbled and limped in the door expecting them to come running. But they just casually said, “Hi Mom, Hi Dad.” I thought I might cry until I noticed that they were eating dinner. I get it. Food is important to me too.
This morning, instead of having family worship, we did the next best thing and sat around the table for three hours listening to 70’s music. James or I would shout, “Oh! Here’s another one!” and play the sample off of iTunes. We’d sway and dance and get groovin’ while the kids sat stiffly and stared at us like they were embarrassed. What’s to be embarrassed about? It’s just two overweight old people dancing around, staring into each other’s eyes and belting out, “I’m on the top of the world lookin’, down on creation and the only explanation I can find, is the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around, your love’s put me at the top of the world.”
That’ll teach them not to get up from the dinner table when I come home from being gone for two days.
Before I end this rambling post I’ve got to leave you with one more thing, “I write the songs that make the whole world sing, I write the songs of love and special things, I write the songs that make the young girls cry, I write the songs I write the songs……”
With the possibility of only three days left in the world, I thought I’d contribute a song for you to get stuck on.
You are always so funny, don’t you just love to dance around embarrassing your kids? I know mine all think their Mum and Dad are super weird when we do stuff like that, although I have learned that you shouldn’t do the Time Warp while sitting along side a learner driver while driving on the hwy for the first time as they can get a little upset!
Deanne, you are so funny! Although I have to slightly disagree about doing the Time Warp while teaching driving. Although it may be dangerous, it is impossible to suppress the dancing when that song is on. LOL! Lisa~
I got to sing with the Carpenters when they came to my town! I was in 6th grade and their “Sing, Sing a Song” was popular. Remember it? It had a kids choir singing toward the end. All the 6th graders in all the schools in town auditioned. I made the choir and wore Mom’s wool plaid MAXI skirt. Oh, yeah! I was “on top of the world” for sure!
And Barry Manilow! Funny, isn’t it, that he’s not changed a wink in 30 years. What’s up with that?
Your kids will adore these songs in about 10 years. Mine do! I got them hooked on ’40s and ’50s songs too… among others. Our daughter even had “Unforgettable” in her wedding. Wasn’t that you and James duetting on that?
Is duetting a word?
Kelley, our duetting (my new favorite word) is the best part. We are off key and horrible sounding which makes it even more fun for the kids. We sing it like there’s no tomorrow and enjoy every second of it. You are so right about them liking it in 10 years. My mom used to crank up the country music in the car and I hated it. Now it’s my favorite.
You singing with the Carpenters in a wool plaid maxi skirt—-I sure wish I could see a picture of that! Lisa~
You have GOT to read Dave Barry’s Book Bad Songs. You will love, love, love it.
I was also a Carpenter’s gal back in the day and sang loudly along with them whenever I played their, um, records. (Am I possibly giving away my age?) It’s nice to read someone else’s blogs who is also in their golden years and can truly appreciate all the cultural happenings of yore.
You and your hubby need to plan a vacation to our NC beach town; I’d love to meet you and will even use the unlimited use of a beach umbrella as a bribe. How you could you possibly turn that down?
Becky
Becky, that sounds heavenly! I must warn you to be careful offering us things. We tend to take people up on their offers, especially when beach umbrellas are involved. 🙂
I’m going to check out that book. We adore Dave Barry! Lisa~
“I didn’t mean to treat you ba-a-a-ad, I didn’t know, just what I ha-a-a-ad, but honey, now I doo-ooo-hoo, and don’t it make my brown eyes, don’t it make my brown eyes, don’t it make my brown eyes blue-oo-whoohoo…?”
Oh Leslie, I hate to tell you how many times I stood on the fireplace hearth with my hairbrush singing that song. At the end I’d bat my blue eyes….such a weird kid. LOL!
P.S. If Becky gets us to her beach town in NC, we have to get together! Lisa~
Oh, to be a fly on your wall . . .
Or a video camera . . .
You could probably retire on the income you could make from the royalties when it went viral. Tell the children, who will be humiliated on an even larger scale, that you are doing it for their own good: To provide for their financial welfare and to make sure they always remain humble.
🙂
Antbed, that is genius! I’m on it. Lisa~
Awww, man! I wasn’t the only gal who used a hairbrush microphone?!
I’ve seen you dance and your smooth moves. I totally get where your kids are coming from…
The 70’s song that invariably gets stuck in my head is Raindrops. I can’t stand that song… But I never tire of Barry :0)
Sara, you’re just jealous of my moves. I’m now off to find a card that when you open it plays “Raindrops”……
Lisa, I had the PLEASURE of meeting your James while sitting in on Mrs. Lambert’s last session at the convention. As I entered the room, there he was sitting near the door (the row I like to sit in) and as I passed by him, he looked up and smiled as I glanced at his name tag. Then, I HAD to say, “Oh, I know your wife, Lisa. We first met at Bethany Anderson Larson’s bridal shower. She is so easy to relate to, and I enjoy reading her blog…” He chuckled as we shook hands. I can see why you have SO MUCH to write about and be thankful for! 🙂 It was also nice to run into you in one of the doorways! Being at that convention made me want to home educate all over again–the memories!! (My youngest is 17…) Yet, there are always the grandchildren that will, Lord willing, come along to teach. I happen to have a granddaughter in Boerne that will be 2 months this week. Already purchased a couple of baby board books in Spanish at the FEAST Bookstore. This baby is going to be bi-lingual, since I was negligent in not teaching French to my own children. (Yeah. My claim to shame, especially since both my husband and I speak it.) As for the songs from our past…My girls DO NOT LIKE it when I can sing along. How come Scripture memory is a battle, but words to dumb songs CANNOT leave our memory bank?!?!? (Now I hope I didn’t offend you with using the word ‘dumb’!)
Pam
Pam
Here’s to Barry and the Carpenter’s.
So funny! Yes, our kids seem to think that – other than feeding, clothing and laundrying for them – our sole purpose in life is to embarass them at every available opportunity. I love it!
Oh, and I’m with you, Pam M, on the memorising thing: our kids recite scene after scene of some ‘dumb’ movie they’ve seen – just if they’ve watched it once! But when they’re *supposed* to be memorising something…..different story!
Please don’t do this when we are together, hahahahahahaha. Our poor children, having parents is humbling. Maybe we should remind them of the days we had to walk around with spit up in our hair, or better yet the time they peed on us, we embarass them—PLEASE.
Cha Cha
Hee hee…a fellow brush singer here!
I know all those songs!
One day Tim and I scared our teenage girls by watching the “70’s Rock Ballads” infomercial with them and singing the songs! They were frightened by the BIG hair all those dudes had! 🙂
Glad you had a mini honeymoon this past weekend!
Yes Pam, James said he talked to you. I wish we had been able to stop and visit. You are so right about memorizing. It amazes me!
Croft, I do enjoy making my kids uncomfortable. I’ve poured a lot into them, shouldn’t I get some small pleasure out of it? 😉
Cha Cha, when I see you in July I am going to burst into song! I can’t wait. Now I have to go find the perfect song just for you…..it’s a challenge. I’m now moving on from embarrassing the kids to trying to embarrass my friends. Fun!
Deanna, yes! The styles were so hilarious. We also looked up some of those and showed the kids. Let’s not talk about what we wore though….my Dorothy Hamil haircut is a thing I’d like to forget. Lisa~
We tell our kids that it’s mandatory for them to learn to sing (and dance) to the songs we know. Hey, if I have to listen to their Wee Sings and Disney songs, I think they should have to do the same for me.
Besides, it’s my job to totally embarrass my chilluns. What else are they going to have to talk and laugh about as adults. Their children will love all of their stories of their mama and daddy who danced like Elaine Bennis.
Jamie, you are so right! If I have to listen to Disney then they can handle a little John Denver! Lisa~
OK, Lisa…
It’s time I come clean!
I have been stalking you for awhile now and you never fail to make me laugh.
Laughing until I pee my pants.
But, only a little.
That’s what 40ish does to a girl right?
Today though, this one really cracked me up and all I can say is…
SING IT BARRY!
Maybe we can meet later at the Copacabana?
Love ya!
Kristin
Thanks so much Mrs. Pennington! It was really great meeting you! I hope we can meet again!
Blessings,
Kristiana
I hear you about embarrassing your kids. You’d think mine would have gotten over that by now, but not so. What I can’t believe about this story is that you were ABLE and WANTED to dance the day after standing on your feet for two days at a book fair. But then, we ARE older than you are! 😉