It looks like our scheduled Friday blogger is MIA, so I thought I'd fill in the blank space. The problem is I don't really have anything planned. I could talk about writing, but that's what everyone else does. So let's just chat.
My "baby" graduates summa cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh this weekend (although I couldn't talk him into going to the ceremony). His degree is in neuroscience with minors in chemistry and music. He's going to work for a year or so at the brain imaging lab where he was an undergrad assistant until he decides if he wants to go to medical school or graduate school. I have a feeling he's leaning more toward grad school because he likes the research aspects of what he's doing.
What else can I talk about? Let's see. Hubby built a desk for our older son and we're going to deliver it to him around the end of May. Here are a couple of pictures of the desk.
My older son lives in Virginia and works at the US Capitol. He has an M.A. in History from Kent State University and he gets to tell visitors all about the history of the Capitol building. A good thing since two of his favorite things are history and talking (after beer, of course).
I think I've run out of things to say. What do you guys want to talk about?
And just for fun--a final picture. Just because it's cute. And it's writing related. Sort of.
12 comments:
I checked my e-mail to make sure I wasn't supposed to blog today. I'm relieved.
Your husband made that desk? I'm impressed. Is your home filled with such furniture?
Paula Matter
Real nice desk, Joyce. Since I had a period in my life when I built furniture (I have a workshop full of very expensive equipment that is gathering a thick blanket of dust), I appreciate the talent, patience and time it takes to do that work.
Paula, yes our home has a lot of custom built furniture.
J. is an accountant by day and he does woodworking to keep sane. Well, as sane as he can be being married to me.
Will, you can deliver all that equipment to my house.
Joyce, that is a beautiful desk. Kudos to your spouse.
You must be very proud of your boys. Reading about them made me want to ask you something since we both have two sons, and perhaps you have some thoughts/advice on this.
My boys are 9 and 11 but are only one year apart in school (4th and 5th grade). I feel as if the younger one, Sean, perpetually lives in his older brother's shadow.
For instance, last year Griffin was one of the two kids from his class who was sent to the school district's fourth grade spelling bee. Just the other day, Sean's class had the "spell-off" to determine the top two spellers that would go to the spelling bee this year. Sean came in 4th in his class. He was so sad, and I felt awful for him. If Griffin hadn't been in the spelling bee, I don't think Sean would have cared all that much about it, but it was that "not quite measuring up" to his older brother thing, which seems to happen most of the time.
On their last report cards, Sean got all A's and one B, which is excellent, but, wouldn't you know it, Griffin got all A's.
It's the same thing with baseball and other sports. Sean's an excellent athlete, but Griffin's just a little bit more of a stand-out.
The only things I can think of that Sean is better at than Griffin is behaving himself/staying out of trouble at school and being a kinder, more compassionate person. And while those things are important to me, I'm not sure they are of much comfort to Sean.
Any advice on how to help Sean not grow up with some kind of inferiority complex? Perhaps I need to help him find some kind of interest/hobby to pursue that is different from anything his brother's doing. Not sure what...?
My two boys are totally different. Andy is outgoing and loves to talk. Josh is more reserved, although he has a wicked sense of humor.
All you can do is nurture their individual talents and try not to compare. Stress that everyone has different talents and encourage them to find theirs.
Another thing we taught our boys was that we expected them to take care of each other. Even if they didn't get along on certain issues, they were brothers. They get along great now.
Lisa, hope you don't mind if I make a comment about having 2 sons. Mine are 3 years apart (my oldest is in college, my youngest in high school). Like Joyce's, mine are pretty different. At 9 & 11, yours are still young. So much will happen over the next few years. They will grow into young men & you will begin to see where each excels. Nuture what you see as positive. Encourage your younger one to try different activities from his brother. He can still do some of the same ones, but help him to branch out. And watch out, some day, he may overshadow his brother. Good luck & enjoy them. People talk about the teen years being tough, but, honestly, they have been some of the best so far.
Q.O.M., I didn't have any trouble with my kids as teens either. They knew if they violated any of the house rules, or got into trouble, there would be serious consequences. And they were just afraid enough that they didn't want to find out what those consequences were!
Lisa, I just thought of something else. A little competition between the boys can be a good thing. It makes each of them try a little bit harder.
Joyce, what a coincidence. My youngest is going into a PhD program in neuroscience this fall. She has already graduated cum laude, in biology, but she's walking with her class in two weeks. I'm so very proud of her, as I'm sure you are of your son. Congratulations!
Thanks, Karen. Congratulations to you, too!
Will, I think Joyce's hubby and mine could get into a nasty little bidding war to take your woodworking equipment off your hands.
Joyce, that desk is gorgeous.
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