A little stressed

I am beginning to feel a little bit stressed as the school year begins. We still don't know whether or not our transfer request for Russell has been accepted and school starts a week from tomorrow (Yikes!), but that's not really what's stressing me.

Tonight, Slade and Russell went to the church to sign Russ up for AWANA. Russell will be a Sparkie this year. Can my little guy really be old enough to be a Spark for Jesus? A Spark to light the world? (Are you singing the Sparks song yet? *bwahahaha*)

So, that's one more committment.

We also will be changing his piano lessons from the nice, convenient time of 9:00 in the morning to after school. Another committment of our time.

Russell has asked if he can play soccer this year and I'm hesitant to agree. I want to see how our days and weeks go with just what we already have on our plate before we add more. I don't know if I can survive one more activity. Slade and I agreed that one musical activity and one physical (or academic, when they are older) activity at a time. If he does more than one sport, then they can't overlap. That might change as he gets a little older, but I don't know. I so do not want to be one of those families that is on the go all the time, with no time to be a family and spend time together. But, I also don't want to keep them from doing something that they might really excel in. We'll just play it by ear, I suppose. And, you're all welcome to hold me accountable. If we get too busy, tell me to slow us down!

Russell also wants to take guitar lessons at some point. I think he would do wonderfully. He is amazing on the piano. And, I'm not just saying that because he's my kid and I happen to think he's the most brilliant child in the universe or anything. Of course, I do think he's the most brilliant child in the... Well, anyway, my biased opinion aside, he does seem to be doing really well.

When he first began his lessons, the notes all had the letter written on them and the number of the finger above the note. Then he progressed to not having the numbers there and he had to remember which finger played which note. Then he progressed to having the notes on the staff, but only one hand at a time. He is now playing with both hands and reading music. It is simple music, of course, but he picks up on each new step very quickly.

He got two new songs this week that he will be playing at his next recital in a few weeks. The first time he tried to play them, he got so frustrated because he couldn't get them perfectly. Well, we have "officially" practiced twice this week and he already has both songs perfectly. I say "officially" practiced, because, although, I have only sat down with him twice since his lesson, he has sat down on his own and has worked through the tough parts. I just always leave his books open on the piano to the toughest song for the week and he goes to the piano, on his own, three or four times a day and practices for a few minutes here and there until he memorizes his songs. See, he's amazing!

Um, I digress...

So, I was saying I am feeling a little stressed. Once Russ starts school and I see how everything goes there, I think I'll feel less overwhelmed. I like to know all the details. It's not that I like to be in control, it's just that I... well, I... I like to be in control.

I don't know what time school starts or ends and that is stressful to me. I want to know that we will have to leave the house at this time to get Russ to school/pick Russ up.

I don't remember when BSF starts for the year and that is stressful to me. (Nevermind that I am sure I have it written down somewhere if I would just go look for it... But, going and looking for something is stressful, too!)

A friend of Slade's has asked if I can watch their 7 year old for three days in January when he is out of school, but his parents won't be off work and his daycare won't be open. I don't mind at all, but I have to find out if I have BSF one of those days because if I do, I can't take him that day since he can't go with me. And, I could call someone and find out, but that's just one more thing to add to my To Do list. And that's a little stressful. *grin*

So, I guess it's kinda my own fault I'm stressed out in some of these areas. I'm being lazy. And, some of it is beyond my control and so I shouldn't bother with stressing anyway. And, some of it is just life and I just need to suck it up, cream puff, put my big girl panties on and deal with it. (You know... I would never say a phrase like that in person, but I feel more free when I'm typing...)

Well, this is a long post about mostly nothing, so I will now end it. I think I'll get to bed at a reasonable hour tonight because we've been going to bed late the past week or so and it's really stressing me out...