Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Teenage Influence a la francais


I didn't run this morning because I was up at 5:30 working on a French essay. Oh, you didn't know I was studying French? That's because I'm not.
I was helping my daughter with her French essay. I'm pretty rusty in French. I can make myself understood, but the writing and getting all of those le and la and de and des in the correct place is a little sketchy for me. I sent the essay to my friend Clare, who teaches French, last night without even reading it through. The glance at the essay haunted me through the night and called me to the computer early. She had used conditional tense when she should have used future tense. We worked for over an hour on the essay, but it still has many mistakes. I discovered later that the email to Clare had bounced back.
After I dropped the kids off at school, I drove to the library to return some overdue books and thought I'd run when I got back home. That's when I got the urgent text message. "Email project to Mr. Hecker asap. Can't find flash drive."
The flash drive held the powerpoint project on the book SeaBiscuit that she finished at 10 last night. I'd reminded her twice to get the flashdrive before we left the house.
If I hadn't gone to the library, I would have been on a run without my phone when she texted. As it was, I was across town, driving home from the library and she would have to wait until I got home to send it.
I didn't run after I sent the essay because a heavy fatigue had settled on my shoulders. I unloaded the dishwasher and made a cup of tea, ready to read the newspaper when the chimney guy walked up the back sidewalk and said he would start putting up scaffolding.

I suppose people are tired of reading complaints about my children. Truthfully, I'm tired of complaining.
I let the whining children ruin my morning. They kept me from a run that would have helped my mood and my health. I need to be responsible for myself and rise above their squabbles. That's why I'm going out the door now for a run.
Oh, did I mention I confiscated Tucker's phone this morning too. I'll save that for another post. Or maybe I'll just let it go while I'm running rather than boring you all.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Truth is your "whining" makes all the rest of us feel normal... (and less horrible about our own daily gripes). I wish I could have said that in french.

Sheila said...

From the title I was expecting a post about all the wonderful things you and Grace are accomplishing in preparation for your French exchange student. I was going to go for a walk this morning instead I laid down on the couch and went back to sleep for 30 min. So you're one step ahead of me! :)

Paulita said...

Actually, I ended up not running, even after I wrote this post. I was totally grumpy all day and finally packed up my computer and went to Panera for the hour before I had to pick up the kids.
And Anonymous, No living vicariously and feeling superior that you don't have to deal wtih torturous teens! Oh, okay, go ahead and feel superior.

Anonymous said...

I use(d) the term "normal" loosely.

Suburban Kamikaze said...

C'est la vie.
Or so I've heard.

SK

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