Part of my early morning routine includes making sure my teens are awake and getting themselves ready for school after their alarms go off. 

They, like their mother, have a tendency to roll over, snuggle down in their blankets and try to go back to sleep if they think they can get away with it.

This of course makes everyone late and me uh, cross.

So, every morning, in between doing the things I need to do to get myself ready I usually wander into my offspring's bedroom and jiggle their feet, turn on some lights or engage them in conversation for just a second or two to make sure they are truly awake.

This morning I said to my youngest, "Say something so I know you're awake. If you talk to me then I'll know you're up."

Her reply?

"Shhhh."

Sigh.

After being on the road for a while, for both work and fun, I am finally home getting things back into their regular routine.

I've been back for a few days now and everything seems to be meshing along again nicely.

Except this,

 

 

The cat.

You see when things get too busy around here or if I'm going to be away for too long, I have a family that takes the dog and sees that she is socialized, walked and basically spoiled while I'm gone.

I decided however that the cat would be more traumatized by moving then by staying at the house so I simply had friends come in and check on him daily for the last two weeks we've all been away.

Although, when we got back, everyone said that the cat did just fine, it is now obvious that he was not happy.

Since I have been back home he has not left my side. His favourite place now is right beside my laptop, preferably lying on whatever I'm working on. If I stop typing for more than a minute he will lean over and lay his head on my hand.

If I get up he also now follows me from room to room (along with the dog!).

The Veterinarian tells me that as long as the cat is eating and drinking I shouldn't worry, supposedly the dear old furry boy just needs time to readjust.

I'm getting a little spooked by all this pet stalking though.

I’m also feeling guilty about all the upset our vacation caused.

Next time?

The cat’s being shipped out while I'm away too.

Sorry bud, but I can't handle all this additional love and guilt.

Sigh.

 

I just finished applying for University.

Okay, I just finished helping my oldest daughter apply to University.

But, I gotta tell you, with all I had to do I kinda feel like I just applied myself.

I tried to just help and not hover, but honestly?

For some of these programs, she needed someone to help her. 

All of the programs she applied to required supplementary essays. Most of the programs asked for resumes. They all had applications that needed a second eye to look them over and make sure at least all the boxes were checked off correctly.

She also applied to several studio art related courses that required large portfolios to be created, then photographed, color-checked and finally uploaded.

Everything had to be double-checked and triple-checked before it was sent.

Most of my daughter's applications were fifteen-checked.

Don't get me wrong, my daughter did the majority of the work but I read and re-read everything until my eyes were crossed this week.

And now, with the exception of the one application she is still working on, she's done.

And now, she waits.

And so does her cross-eyed Mama - with all my fingers crossed.