It's Been A While...

Well, it's been a while since I have written. And a lot has happened in my life that I could write about.

However, I want to talk about a date that I had last night. But, before I get to the events of last night, I need to lay out the history behind this date.

I moved out to the area that I live at now, because I was to start graduate school about an half hour from the city of Detroit.

So, when I moved out here, I would go to the local gas station. As I would regularly stop by this gas station, I got to know one of the workers. He is gorgeous and had a great personality. Over the past few months, I developed mild depression along with all the life situations that a single mother has to deal with in daily living. When I would go in and had a bad day, he would actually ask what was going on and appeared to genuinely care.

Sometimes I would stop in the store to get a pop or something small just so that I could see him and talk for a few precious moments with him. So, one day, with the encouragement of some online friends, I got brave enough to call up to the store and ask him out for coffee.

We squeezed coffee in between our busy schedules.

He was very honest with me about his situation. He had been divorced within the past year and wasn't sure that he was ready for a relationship, but wanted to start out as friends and see how things goes.

Fast forward five months is when this movie date occured. In the five months that pasted between our coffee date to the movie date, I almost wrote him off as being 'just not that into me'. (And yes, I read the book. And of course, I still secretly hope that I am the exception.)

But, I couldn't just give up. He seemed genuinely interested in me. I didn't feel like him telling me that he is busy and life is complicated was an excuse, but a true reason. So, I didn't give up. I pursued him a little. I know women aren't suppose to do that, but I did.

Well, I bugged him for a couple weeks about going to see a movie. So, last night we did.

He picked me up about 9:30 pm. He was driving because we were going to a movie theater that I had never been to before. I choose the movie, The Wolfman. (I would NOT recommend the movie unless you like graphic blood and guts.) Most of the movie I had my head turned and my hand covering my mouth and face.

OH! Don't let me forget to tell this part. Considering it was St. Valentine's weekend. I stopped at the store after dropping my son off at the sitter's. I bought a card and a tiny brown bear with a red ribbon. I tried to make the card and the bear as 'friend-friendly' as possible. Because going into the date, I had no clue whether it was a date or just two friends going to the movies. So, once we got to the movie theater, I told him that I had something for him. I pulled the bear and card out of my purse and told him Happy Valentine's Day. He told me that I was crazy and that I shouldn't have spend my money on him. But he told me he really liked the bear and thanked me. He hadn't looked at the card. I didn't write anything in it, just put his name at the top of the greeting and mine at the bottom. I had also sprayed the bear with the perfume that I wore that night.

Anyways, fast forward to the movie, I so wanted to touch him. I wanted to hold his hand. At some point our legs where touching and he didn't move his leg. I so wanted to hold his hand. Then he touched my knee, so I eventually slid my hand down to his and he squeezed my hand when I placed it in his. So, for the movie, we held hands.

On the way back to my place, we chit-chatted in the car. We pulled up to my apartment and talked for a few minutes more. When he leaned over to give me a hug good-bye, he kissed me on the cheek. I didn't expect that. We started to release our embrace and I kissed him on the cheek. We then kissed on the lips.

He came into my apartment for a little while. And not to get into any more detail, he didn't push his limits and I behaved myself. But, kissing him was wonderful.

Being in the moment with him was wonderful. It was more than I would have expected.

But, because there is always a but, I am hesitant. He seems wonderful. He seems to care about me as a person.

He has said a couple times now that I don't have to worry about arranging for a sitter that he has no problem with my son around or doing something that my son can do also. There is two things that scare me about this (1) that he might actually care for me and wants to get to know my son and (2) that I don't want to expose my son to someone that might not be around that long, but long enough for my son to be attached. I know that I have to have a conversation with him about the latter; though I want to do it in person.

As a single mother, I am beyond tired of meeting guys that are only interested in jumping in the sack with me or meeting someone that I like and not to have them like me back. I know this is an issue with all single women, but when you also have a child to think about, you tend to worry a little more about these things.

I wish that I was able to see him tonight, but he had already had plans. But when I spoke with him, he mentioned that the bear smelled good. And he said the same thing to me last night about the perfume that I was wearing. So, obviously, I am on his mind. I hope for the right reasons.

Uphill, in the snow, and with paper bags on my feet...

Well, it's been an interesting few days to say the least!

Let's start with Monday. I had a great day shopping with my friend. On Sunday, I got a really nice bookcase and twin matresses set from my son's teacher. So, I went to the Salvation Army to get a headboard and frame. This was smack dab in the middle of the shopping excursion. We did the whole gamitt... shoes, mall, lunch... you know that whole girly shopping thing, which I don't get to do that often.

So, when I get home in the evening after getting my son from school, I attempt to put together the frame. It was not working. There was no way that it was right! (Now, granted, I can put just about anything together, I just don't have much patience. I often have the sailor come out in me when it comes to following directions.) So, I called up to the Salvation Army to talk to a manager and explain that I think I got the wrong frame. She explained to me that it was adjustable. I said okay, I'll try it again. When I went back into the bedroom, there was nothing on it to adjust. I compared the metal bars to the matresses and the headboard. There was absolutely NO way that this was right. I called back again and asked the manager to compare the numbers/letters that were stamped on the box. She complied and went in the back. She concluded with me that I was given the wrong one. So, at like 8 pm at night with no dinner, I am running up there to take what I have back and get the right one... all with a kido in tow! A whining crying kid who totally needed to be getting ready for bed, not running with me.

Okay... bed put together and love it!

Now on to Tuesday! I got kido off to school and I then drove to the University for classes. I got to the classroom. I sat down. I looked around. I realized that something wasn't right.... there was no one there. So, I go down to the computer lab, with weird looks from administration staff. I look at my schedule and classes don't start until WEDNESDAY!!!! Ugh! I just paid 90 cents to park for just over a 1/2 hour! OH well!
I did get to flirt with my favorite gas station attendant, who I tried to convince to see a movie with me this weekend. We'll set if it actually pans out.

Now Wednesday, it went well. I had a faculty candidate lunch that I attended and a class which I think I am going to really enjoy.

Now on to today! Went fairly well... I had a morning class, which I think I will enjoy also. But this is the kicker. The teacher sent my son to afterschool care and not to the bus. Which in her defense, his schedule changed because my schedule changed. So, I had to drive up to get him. Which at this time, the teacher explains to me that the school social work sent an assessment that I need to fill out.

Let me jump back for a moment to fill in the details. My son has had some trouble learning and making learning gains at school. We are now in a good school district where this would be noticed. So, now in first grade, he is behind the other students and struggling.

I have been pushing a little for this to be figured out and the teacher agrees that something must be done.

I checked my email for the assessement... the reason that I missed it is because it came under his name only, not the school email address. And he listed it as the tests name, when I was not expecting an email. As a graduate student, I receive tons of emails. I am suprised that I just didn't delete it, instead of just skipping over it.

So, as I am completely the assessment that he deemed for 'attentional' issues, *rolls eyes* it hits me, yes there is a really good chance that he has ADHD. I figured that is what the assessment was for (Conner's). So of course I google it just to make sure because they ask from pretty scary questions on it about extereme aggressive behavior.

As a parent, I am completely derailed! I have a bachelor's degree in social work and a minor in psychology with a focus on children and women. So, I am not ignorant about the disorder. As, parents, we tend to put so much blame on ourselves for our children's behavior and learning. On one hand, I wish that it was someting I was doing as a parent, so I can fix it. But absolutely nothing has worked! On the other hand, it's kinda good to have it 'labeled' eventhough as a parent we never want our children labeled. And there is the confusion of wanting our children to have an easy life without difficulties. However, a friend of mine (my shopping buddy from earlier in the week) reminded me that the difficulties in life is what builds character and makes your stronger.

All I can say is... what a week!