Family Bingo Night

Last night was Family Bingo Night at Alex's school. It was to be a night of family fun - dinner (hot dogs and popcorn), bingo, and raffle prizes. It turned out to be a disaster!! It started out rather chaotic, but once we were settled in our seats and Owen adjusted to the huge crowd of people, I thought it would be fine. The bingo caller was really fast and Joe and I had to keep an eye on our own cards, completely help Jenna, and double-check Alex's card. Oh, yeah, I was also feeding Owen his dinner at the time, too! Alex came close to bingo several times but just when he thought for sure he would win, we were told to clear our cards. He also wasn't winning any of the raffle prizes and was starting to get discouraged. Well, several games into it and Jenna gets a bingo. We cheer for her and Joe takes her up to pick out a prize. Alex slumps further into his seat. Joe and I are both one number from getting a bingo and tell Alex if either of us win, he can have our prize. Well, neither of us win. Alex does not get a prize. I see the storm clouds coming. Alex fights back the tears as he is at his school, after all, sitting next to his best friend, no doubt, who insists on talking to Alex, unaware of the inner turmoil that Alex is in. We pack up and head home. I know it is going to be bad when we walk in the house. And then it happens. I try to talk to Alex, to explain that it is very hard to win when that many people are playing (at least 100) and that we were very lucky that at least one person in our family won. He huffs and puffs with his back to me, arms failing at me anytime I try to touch him. So, I ask him to talk to me, to tell me how he is feeling. More huffs and puffs. So, I tell him he doesn't need to talk. I tell him how I can't fix it for him but that I could certainly hold him and hug him. And with that, I see his back heaving and hear the sobs getting louder. I pick him up and just hold him and let him cry. I feel horrible. I want to fix it. I want to make it better. But, really, I can't fix it. I can't make him win something. Buying him something won't fix it, either, it just puts a band-aid on the situation and makes him dependent on retail therapy. So, I just hold him and know that this is just a life lesson that he has to learn. When Alex calms down we explain to him that he is going to have to lose many times in life before he will win but that just makes winning that much better. We tell him it is hard to understand but it is something he must accept. The thing is, it seems like Jenna is the one that always wins in situations like this. The girl is just lucky. And while I am so happy for her, I feel so bad for Alex. Growing up is not easy. Parenting a child through these lessons I have already learned is even harder because sometimes we can't make it better and sometimes we should not make it better and that is what is hardest for me.

Owen at 6 months

More Owen pics

Owen Pictures

It's been too long since I've lasted blogged. My bad, but where to find the time?! I'll keep it short and simple - Owen is now 6 months old and still a pure delight! We've battled some nasty stomach bugs, but overall Owen is doing great. He is now rolling from his back to his front and vice-verse. He has mastered an adorable scoot on his bottom that he uses to move himself forward and when on his tummy he can spin around and move backwards. Owen weighs 21 lbs 2 oz and is 27 1/2 inches long. The pictures of Owen are from November 2008, December 2008, and January 2009.