DREAMING ANGEL...

An angel slumbers....

An angel awakens...

He calls me MiMi..

BOOMERANG KID GONE WILD!!

Can I just say that to date, I have not had to call 911 because my grown son has not cleaned his room! (Knock wood?)


POSTED: Monday, May 18, 2009
UPDATED: 7:50 pm EDT May 18, 2009
BEDFORD, Ohio -- An Ohio man who argued with his grown son over a messy bedroom said he overreacted when he called 911.

Andrew Mizsak called authorities Thursday after his 28-year-old son -- who's a school board member in the Cleveland suburb of Bedford -- threw a plate of food across the kitchen table and made a fist at him when told to clean his room.

The son, also named Andrew, lives in a room in his parents' basement.
The father declined to press charges and told police he doesn't want to ruin his son's political career.

The son, who also works as a political consultant, said he's lucky to be living in the house rent free. He also promises to keep his room clean.

BOOMERANG KIDS

I had no idea there was a name for adult children who move home but apparently there is. Adult children moving home are called "Boomerang Kids."

It's interesting to note that under 8 percent of adult children ages 25 to 34 lived with parents in 1970. Today that percentage is roughly 12%. The culprit? The declining economy. Couple the economy with student loans and high credit card debt, marriage and children and you've got your "Boomerang Kid."

I, myself have a "Boomeranger" and living in a state with a 12.6% unemployment rate, I may have him for quite some time. Looking and/or moving out of state for employment is not an option for my "Boomeranger" as his child is here. What to do, what to do??

I am fortunate that our family dynamic is such that we all - I still have 2 teens at home - get along quite well for the most part. We have our squabbles from time to time, who doesn't?

The whole experience has been and continues to be an enlightening one for me. For example, I never thought of myself as being a strict parent or a dictator when it came to manners but I've learned from watching my son with his son and I often find myself laughing at my son for being so anal about "time outs" for inappropriate behavior and manners. I told my son that he really needed to lighten up, it really is not a big deal if his son throws his food to the floor for the dog or if his son decides that the bathtub is his very own pirate ship and he splashes water all over the bathroom floor. "It can be mopped up," I say, "he's having fun." My son in turn tells me, "Mom this is the same way you raised us. We never got away with this." Really? I had to ponder that for a time. I was a single Mom and my memories are of all the fun we had. Was I really that anal with my own children? I had to call my daughter who has a 2 yr. old son (step) herself. Was she too a stickler for manners and appropriate behavior?? The answer was yes and yes! I was anal and I have passed this on to my children! I'm not altogether sure how I feel about this. It was a completely different set of circumstances for me. At the time I remember thinking, my children and I will not be the stereotypical single Mom family. My children will not be a statistic. They will be honor students - and they were. They will have manners at home and in public - and they did. They will have respect for self and others - and they did. They will have fresh haircuts, beautiful teeth, new clothes (not brand name but brand new), they will be sparkling clean.. And they were. They will exceed all expectations, including the ones I had set forth. - And they have. They will know above all else, that their Mom loves them unconditionally and forever and always will... And they do.

Please know, there was a method to my madness.

When I was a single Mom I didn't have the support from my parents. In fact my Mother told me, and I quote, "I raised my 7 now you raise yours." End quote. In my mind, at the time, I thought I had to be thorough and consistent with the upbringing of my children, love and discipline in equal measure.. Not necessarily anal, that wasn't my goal. I was all they had and they were all I had. I could not fail them. I would not fail them. I would not fail. I was one tough cookie to be sure. I ruled with an iron fist in a velvet glove but again, I felt I had to. There was one of me and four of them and a whole wide world out there waiting and anticipating our failure. Tempting my children to stray. It wasn't going to happen. Not on my watch. And it didn't...

Now about that "Boomerang Kid" of mine... I suppose it's time to have an adult conversation with my adult child(ren)... Time to dissolve the "anal gene" chain of self abuse..

Any suggestions????

SOME OF MY FAVORITE CELEBRITY "GROOVY GRAMS"

My personal favorite "Groovy Gram", STUNNING and AGELESS!! Sophia Loren with her Grandchildren, Vittorio and Miss Lucia

SOCK IT TO ME BABY!!!!!!!




Goldie Hawn, the epitome of all things groovy is "GoGo" to two precious little boys, Ryder (Kate Hudson) and Wilder (Oliver Hudson). Looking GREAT at any age! Kudos to "Groovy Gram", Goldie Hawn!

Whoopi Goldberg a very cool "Groovy Gram!"

Connie Stevens is a "Groovy Gram" to one grandson!

"Groovy Gram," Dame Elizabeth Taylor has 10 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild!

"Groovy Gram" Debbie Reynolds has one BEAUTIFUL grand-daughter named Billie!

And funny, funny "Groovy Gram," Cloris Leachman has 6 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild!

Housecoats, fuzzy slippers and reading glasses off to these truly "GROOVY GRAMS!"

GROWING PAINS: GROWN CHILDREN MOVING BACK HOME, WITH THEIR CHILDREN...

As a grandparent having your grown children, with your grandchildren in tow, move back home, is like a rebirth of your own life, altho given a choice I'm quite certain that this isn't the part of life that most of us would choose to be reborn. I'd like to have a rebirth of my "B.C" years, "before children." Grown children moving home with their children comes in a close second tho. (Insert sarcasm here...)

The move-in was seamless. Beds were moved, rooms rearranged, boxes in and to the basement, laundry in and to the laundry room. All was right with the world and stayed that way for about.... One whole day. Boy did I have alot to learn!

Eventually you get used to a 2 yr. old bursting into your room in the mornings, jumping on your back (stomach, legs, arms, head) shouting at the top of his lungs, "MiMi, wake up MiMi, I'm hungry!" Now I even look forward to it and if it doesn't happen? Well of course I go "in search of" to find out why it hasn't. Talk about chasing the snake that bites you... What I don't think you get used to is stepping on Matchbox cars strewn about the hallway leading into the kitchen. I don't think you ever get used to that. Nor do you get used to setting a box of cereal on the counter, turning to the other cabinet to retrieve a bowl, only to hear, in the split second it took for you to reach over and open a cabinet, the swish of a box full of cereal spilling to the floor, followed by, "I sorry MiMi, I clean up." But I'm getting better.

What I do find comforting is that the core of who your children are, their spirit, the people you raised them to be, doesn't change much. The morals and values you instilled in them remain, as do most of the manners. You recognize your child as a good person, a person you not only love but also like. However... Just as the morals, values and manners remain, so does their absolute disregard for keeping a clean room, their inability to sort their laundry or rinse their dishes before putting them in the dishwasher - if they make it out of the kitchen sink! If they ever make it to the sink! - The wet bath towels remain on the floor in the bathroom and you feel a little silly reminding your son, a grown man with a child of his own, to pick up after himself, and yet, just as when he was younger, you do it anyway and the answer remains the same.... "Oh I forgot..."

The conversations are better. They've clearly expanded their horizons - to a degree - and you feel as tho you're actually having a conversation with a grown up. You're amazed at how much they know as young as they are and you wonder how and when they became so knowledgeable. You enjoy spending time with them and can't remember when you laughed so much. It makes you feel good, it warms you. You forget about the laundry and towels and unrinsed dishes and focus on how wonderful it is to have your grown child back "home" again.

You also forget what it is like to take a bath or shower alone and remember the selective hearing of your children... And despite the rather loud, announcement throughout the land, of your intent to jump in the shower or take a nice, hot, relaxing bath, somehow you find yourself running for cover under the bubbles and/or making a make shift robe out of your shower curtain because again, you find yourself at the mercy of a 2 yr. old little boy shouting, "Hi MiMi, whatchya' doin?!" I am certain I spoke loud enough for the citizens of China to hear, you think to yourself, how in the world did my GROWN son not hear me??? You discover of course, as in days of old, your GROWN son did not hear you because he was too busy battling his teenage brothers, who also have selective hearing, in.... Surprise.... A video game!

I don't know coined the phrase, "The more things change, the more they stay the same," but whoever it was must've had grown children who moved back home!

This is not exactly the fairy tale I had mapped out for my life. It's not exactly the way I had envisioned life in my 40's... The white sand, the ocean waves and the cabana boy bringing me endless fruity drinks, are all missing. However, this is my life and for all of it's ups and downs, I LOVE it and to be honest, I wouldn't change a thing.. Well, I almost wouldn't change a thing... The cabana boy with the fruity drinks? That would be nice....

This week I'm supervising potty training... Any suggestions?

Hhhmmm, now where is that boy with my drink?

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Groovy Grams out there!!!! Enjoy your day!!!!!

THEY CALL ME MiMi

I became a MiMi in Oct. 06', in fact, just 3 days after being diagnosed with cancer.

Knowing my grandson was on his way I kept my diagnosis between my sister and myself. I was adamant about not taking away from my son, daughter-in-law and my grandson's day. No one was going to rain on their parade, least of all me!

Needless-to-say, one look into the angelic face of my grandson gave me yet another reason to fight the fight of my life. I not only needed to be here for my children, I had to be here for my grandson! I was determined that this little boy would know his Grandma!

Fast forward two and a half years and life is grand! I am now officially "MiMi" to two precious little boys! Seth, born to my son that incredible October in 2006 and Aidan, born of my heart when my daughter became engaged to a wonderful man who brought another grandson to me!

I am still battling the cancer but every day I grow stronger and more determined than ever to be here for my children and my grandchildren!

I have been and I continue to be, blessed...

Come, sit down, enjoy a cup of tea on a quiet afternoon (if you have one!) And share your stories.