Wow! It's been a few weeks since the last blog. Funny how life sort of takes over, well, my life. Things have continued here in the absence of writing. School is in full swing, swim is in full swing, coaching and sewing are in full swing. We titled the blog "A Mom's Life" because there are so many different facets to it. Not only are we the "cruise directors" of our kids' lives (on every level), but we also have to figure out how to earn the money, spend the money and save the money. Since my husband took a new job last spring, money hasn't been as thick on the ground as it had been in the past. This is fine, as I welcome a challenge and I can truly say (and I REALLY mean this) that teaching my children about economy and priorities has been refreshing. As a parent, this is one of the MOST important lessons they need to know: the difference between need and want.

We have had some flooding here in Georgia; it is all over the national news. My mother has gotten at least 4 phone calls from long-time friends of hers all over the country checking on her and my dad. It is nice to know that when the chips are down, people care. My family hasn't really experienced any problems. At one point, water was coming in the basement, but it stopped and I cleaned it up quickly. In short, I feel very blessed and lucky as compared to some of the people I see on TV who have lost everything.

The kids have been out of school now for two days because of this. Cobb County was hit particularly hard and some of the roads are impassable and some of the schools are completely, and i mean up to the roofs completely, under water. The scary part is, is that the day this happened, there were children in that school until 2:30 in the afternoon, as only the middle school kids were released early. More than a couple of children (yes, children) have lost their lives because of this flooding - not in that school that I know of though. These tragedies put a whole new spin on one's priorities. Yes, we are operating on a less than adequate budget; but at least my children are home safe. Yes, we eat eggs once a week because they are cheap, but I have a kitchen to cook them in and a car to go buy more if I need to. I am not standing outside my house with a news camera in my front yard asking me how "I feel" about having just lost my two-year old when he was swept out of my arms in a torrent of water.

Priorities. The kids have had two days off from school. My high schooler is thrilled because she has more time to get her project done. My middle schooler is thrilled because she got to have a friend spend the night in the middle of the week. I have tried to, without being a "Debbie Downer" explain to them that we are very lucky and to tell them about the casualties so that they understand what is real. I think I will organize them to go and take things to the Red Cross shelter that has been set up here. Maybe this will impress the priorities. -K