Shingle Bells

(sung to the tune of Jingle Bells)

On our way to Gran's.
Sam starts to complain.
There seems to be a rash.
There seems to be some pain.

We've no idea the cause.
The agony just grows.
We get to the ER.
And the doctor thinks she knows.

Oh!

Shingle bells! Shingle bells!
Shingles on the bum!
There's no worse place for them to be.
Thanksgiving won't be fun.

Oh!

Shingle bells! Shingle bells!
Shingles plus pain meds.
Make for a loopy, pitiful boy
Spending lots of time in bed.

We don't know the cause.
We just know they hurt.
As evidenced by Sam.
Who said he felt like dirt.

We pray they won't come back.
It was painful just to see.
But Sam, he toughed it out.
Now they're healing quite nicely.

Oh!

Shingle bells! Shingle bells!
Our poor guy's in pain.
You're not welcome in our home.
Don't ever come back again!

(based on a true story.)

This Road

Saying vows is easier than staying true to them.

Did we even understand when we repeated them?

To love, cherish, and to honor seemed so simple.

Having babies after that seemed so responsible.

We did not know that this road would have so many hills.

We did not know that our love would take so many spills.

Sometimes all we do is just get through the day.

It's not ideal but sometimes the only way.

And this road- is not what we thought it should be.

This road is "I don't know's" and "I am sorry's".

This road is twists and turns and egos burned.

But, at least- we're on this road.

In the movies lovers make up in a day or two.

If they don't they just move on- it's what we're taught to do.

I don't want to leave a legacy of running away.

Let's dig our heels in and find the strength to stay.

On this road- though it's not what we thought it should be.

This road- with it's "I don't know's" and "I am sorry's".

This road- it's twists and turns and egos burned.

But, at least- we're on this road.

(Jeff and I are fine- better than fine- promise. Just been thinking about this road and thankful to be on it with a pretty awesome guy.)

Damn them....because I wish I could.

I did everything I knew to do. I made sure he had "cool" clothes. I made sure and had a "hip" haircut. I made sure he brushed his teeth every morning and took a shower at least every other day.

But, yesterday, Sam came home from school in tears, sobbing. He's been getting teased relentlessly at school. The names that he gets called every day are too graphic to write on this blog, but sufficient to say, my mama heart is broken.

He said it's been going on since the beginning of the school year and that he didn't want to tell me because he knew I'd do something about it and he didn't want me to embarrass him. I get that.

Jeff was also made fun of at this age. I keep telling myself that Jeff turned out OK, right? But, really, I just want to yank Sam out of that school and never send him back. I wish it were that easy.

I wish I could shelter Sam from the cruelties in this world. I wish I could take it all away. But, I really wish I could kick some fifth grade ass.