Yesterday we lost power due to the "Auntie Em! Auntie Em!" like storm we had here. We have never lost power since we have lived here. We lost it about 3pm when it was still light. But Mike had a friend here and they were happily playing Lego Star Wars on the Wii and bam! Nothing.

I got a little panicked for a moment thinking "what am I supposed to do with these two now?" We couldn't go outside or anywhere for that matter it was that bad out. But much to my surprise and delight they didn't skip a beat. I suggested coloring before it got dark, to which I was given 20 reasons why they aren't babies anymore. (really? coloring is babyish? I still love to color) They were off down in the pitch dark basement to play Star Wars laser swords. They were having quite a ball at it I must say. Then they just went from one thing to another not really caring that they couldn't be parked in front of a screen. That made me happy. I always wonder if they can exist without the electronics and video games.

I gathered candles and flashlights as it started to get darker. I figured we would have family game night by candlelight, that would be fun. I remember when the power went out when I was a kid and we got to walk around with candles in the dark. I thought that was fun. My plans for dinner were not happening since my oven and stove are electric. Hubby called and said he would bring home Chinese on the way home from work.

But then just as I was in full plan mode for a night in the dark...the power came back on. Now, I know it's a HUGE pain for the power to be out for a long time. I didn't want that. But I must admit I was looking forward to it being off that night. We would have found a way to keep ourselves occupied together and Mike would have gotten to walk around with a candle. But the lights came back on, the clocks came back to life and the Wii fired up. And little boys were once again glued to the screen, back to fighting the Evil Empire.

It was a little exciting for them that the power went out. They did think it was fun and a little scary to play in the dark in the basement for awhile. It just wasn't as much fun for me...oh well at least I got out of cooking right?

Tonight I have to go to High School Orientation with my son. That is shocking to me in so many ways. I was looking through his baby pictures yesterday, trying to pick one out for the 8th grade yearbook. It doesn't seem that long ago that he was that little baby. That he was that little toddler with the curly hair and the big blue eyes. That he followed me everywhere. When he was born, I loved him like I never thought I could. With such fierceness and protectiveness and just pure, plain adoration. My life became all about my boy. We spent our time taking walks, playing outside, meeting friends, always together. When he was two his sister was born. We still spent our days together, but I gave him a little less of me because now he had to share. I tried to divide myself. I think I managed successfully. We were living in South Africa at that time so I had help. I could still take him to Gymboree-like classes and art class and pottery class and leave his sister behind. We still had our time.

We moved back to the states when he was 3. Our time together changed abruptly. I went back to work. He no longer had me as a playmate, but babysitters and daycare. I struggled with that. with dropping him and his sister off in a room full of children. A herd. No longer individuals but part of room 4 that ate and slept and went to the bathroom at the same time.

I worked until he was in Kindergarten and then the newest member of our family joined us. He got another little sister even though he was hoping for a brother but at that point he was six so I don't know how much a brother would have changed his life.

I miss that time when it was just the two of us. Now he is going off to High School. That gives me 4 more years of my boy. We spend very little time together now. I am busy ferrying his sisters around. He is busy with friends and school and tennis.

I know he will always be my boy - and I will always be his Mom. I can't help missing that little boy whose life revolved around me and mine around him. Now I have this teenager with clothes on his floor and headphones in his ears going off to High School.... the old adage is true - time does fly.

Cara's two cents: The pic of the boy made me lol...too cute! Does it make you feel better that soon I will have a college student?

No matter how old I get I don’t think I will ever understand them. Not really sure I want to. It makes my hair hurt. I will never understand the “male” point of view...

Boys: Your friend is mean to you and then an hour later you go out and play wiffle ball together.

Girls: You were mean to me? I will now curse you so that your hair turns green while you are sleeping

Boys: You came here wearing the exact same shorts as me? COOL!!!

Girls: You BETTER have a change of clothes in your purse…

Boys: Hey what’s up Butt Face!

Girls: You did NOT just call me that?

Boys: Frank and Steve went to the bar for a beer last night. He says: Cool, I hear they have great wings there.

Girls: Mary and Cathy went to the mall yesterday. She says: Nice. Why didn’t they call me?They know I love the mall…they did it on purpose to leave me out!!

And so it goes. I don’t know if the “boys” have it right or just too one dimensional to do it any other way. Are we gals just too complex? Or do we have to make an issue out of everything? I laugh when I think what would happen if we left the dads to get involved with that teacher thing. The kids may end up in the wrong grade. (So what if they do first grade again? They will get everything right!) Some dads I know don’t even know what street the school is on.

It’s gotta be easier in the day to day to be a boy. He can perform bodily functions at the poker table and either his buddies don’t notice, laugh or clap. If she tried that while out having a pedicure with her girlfriends? No one will clap, let me assure you. The face he looks at in the mirror after washing it, is the face he shows the world. It’s not a face that still needs all the features “painted” on. He can be hairy (to a point) and look macho. There is not really a need for waxing, plucking and shaving. We can be hairy too…and have the other girls call us Sasquatch behind our back. Did I mention Aunt Flo? Yeah well she NEVER visits him. Nuff said.

Maybe we can learn a lesson from “them” and not sweat the small stuff. Or maybe it’s just the waxing, PMS and gas that make us so difficult. I don’t know. What I do know is that it seems to be easier being a boy. Maybe I will try to think like one and see how my day goes. (while wearing my makeup of course!)