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Mom Held Hostage, Day One

By Susan Mangigian

Real Estate Sales Representative with RE/MAX Preferred RS152252A

June 19, 2008 03:35 AM

My little guy Max graduated from Fern Hill Elementary today. Fern Hill is a loving school and both of my sons had wonderful experiences there. I was very proud of Max today, and while all of the other parents were following directions and holding their applause until the end, my older son Mike, my lovely nephew Chaz and Mike's best friend Griffin and I hooted and performed a perfectly executed

Chaz started it, then Mike, Griffin and finally, me... the adult that should have known better! Max was up on stage shaking hands with his teacher, the principal and smiling from ear to ear. That is one thing I know I gave my children... the inability to be embarrassed by anything. Having me for a mom has made them immune to public humiliation! They are quite used to it.

Max graduates

While I was doing the wave this morning, what I was really doing was waving goodbye to my freedom! Tomorrow, as the summer holiday kicks-off, at my house it's the official start of MOM HELD HOSTAGE, DAY ONE!

For the next 2 months or so don't bother to invite me to lunch. If I am not working, I'll be lifeguarding in my backyard, where the pool gets lots of action! When I am not prospecting, managing my listings, showing houses or cleaning up after my 2 sons and all of the various cast of characters that we call friends, I will be by the pool. I love this, I really do. I could live without the extra housework, the endless laundering of beach towells, the picking up of candy wrappers and soda cans, etc. But I love all the commotion, the company, the noise and the life my sons bring to our home.

But I will miss my freedom. I will miss being able to decide what to do every morning when with a contented sigh, I watch Max walk to the bus stop. I will miss the last minute calls from my friends to go to breakfast, take a walk, go to the gym, without the guilt that I am leaving the kids for fun and not work. When they are in school, I can do as I please. It's a nice feeling.

For now, I am going to go with it. I will not wish away this last summer with my teenager before he leaves for college. I will not complain about the towells all over the floor, I will not moan about their size 13 sneakers in the middle of the kitchen floor and the dirty dishes and endless glasses in the sink, I will not be angry that when I reach for a cold water bottle, there aren't any left. Please God, let me be mindful that someday I will be wishing for some noise and some of this chaos!

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James Wexler

wexzilla.com - Scottsdale, AZ

Susan

I appreciate the piece as I am going to be a father for the first time in about a week. I guess I wont have much time for AR. Any advice?

by the way, Do you have an outside blog that I can add to my Blogroll ?

Thanks and look forward to reading your thoughts on the world of real estate.

Jun 19, 2008 05:32 PM

Arina Hanciulescu

RealtyPros - Las Vegas, NV

RealtyPros

Susan,That reminds me of high-school summer vacations... when the house was full with friends and all of us in the pool, pizza, coca-cola and of-course laud music. My mom was a full time working mom but my older sister (6 years older) was in charge will all the fun of watching us. How I loved vacations!

Remember my mom coming home in the lunch time... just to check -:)

Jun 19, 2008 05:47 PM

Susan Mangigian

RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA

Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Chris, It's great that you have that system for work! When I am out of the house with clients, I tell them up front that I'll only answer the phone if it's my sons. And it usually is... Max.. Mom! Michael hit me!! Ahh!

Kim, I always tell Max that I'll be doing cartwheels to the bus stop in September! But even though it's a relief to be able to get back to work without worrying about them, it's always a little sad, because another summer is over and they are growing up on me. And yes... love to have lunch. It's silly that we've never even met!

James, I am so happy for you! Your heart is going to grow and expand and you won't believe how much you love that little person! The only advice I have and I can hear the loud moaning from most of my male friends here is... help your wife as much as possible and don't make her feel like you are helping... this is your child too! Most men say things like they are babysitting when they are home with their children.. it's not called babysitting when it's your own child. It's called doing your share! I don't have an outside blog.. don't even know how to do that!

Arina, summers are fun. It sounds like you guys had a blast!

Jun 19, 2008 11:39 PM

Kathy Passarette

Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY

L.I. Staging/Decorating

Susan ~ I wish I had those hostage days back! Like Elaine, my youngest is graduating high school in two weeks. I want to just enjoy these next couple of months with him before he is off to college, and if that means putting up with dirty dishes in the sink (even though I just emptied the dishwasher), or tripping over his size 13's, well, so be it!

Enjoy your "confinement"!

Jun 20, 2008 04:21 AM

L. Wayne Denton

Denton Properties, Inc. - Loganville, GA

I have a handle on your market!!!

We will be praying for release of some sort. My wife is the same kind of mother who really enjoys all the noise and carrying on with the kids and their friends. We all need to enjoy them as we can and hope the grandkids come soon enough for us to be able to enjoy them as well. Good post.

Jun 20, 2008 04:37 AM

Chris Fisher

Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

James - I think there's a rule that if you mention you have a new baby you must provide a photo of the baby with your comment. : )

Jun 20, 2008 06:27 AM

Jesse Clifton

Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

Well, darn... I was just getting ready to pop over to West Chester and see if you wanted to join us for lunch. It's times like these that I'm glad we're grandparents. Although now that I think about it, we've become summer camp now.

Jun 20, 2008 02:53 PM

Susan Mangigian

RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA

Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Jesse, Darling, for you, I'd lock the little darlings in the house for an hour or so! We could paint my quaint little town red. Between the two of us, people would buy ear plugs, we'd be laughing so loud!

Jun 20, 2008 03:12 PM

Jesse Clifton

Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

LOL. Sounds like a grand plan to me. Poor West Chester would NEVER be the same!

Jun 20, 2008 08:02 PM

Judy Greenberg

Compass - Long Grove, IL

Compass- Long Grove -Buffalo Grove

Having 3 teenage boys myself, I feel your pain when the smelly sneakers are all over the place. Its hard not to complain about all the towels on the floor etc. I will try to listen to your advice and ignore it this summer.

Jun 20, 2008 11:36 PM

Dennis Volz

State Farm Insurance - San Diego, CA

Like a Good Neighbor

You GO GIRL. You're making ALL THE RIGHT CHOICES! As I wrote in: A Plethora of Options - Life Options

"Life options are more important than money options. Money options determine the way you live with (or part with) your cash. Life options determine how you decide to cash in on living."

May you have an ENDLESS SUMMER!!! dv

Jun 21, 2008 12:00 AM

Susan Mangigian

RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA

Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Dennis, I clicked the link and it went into "not a valid something or other". Can you send it again, I'd love to read it, print it out, and re-read daily. Day 2 is today and there is a pile of dirty dishes in the sink and wet towells on my sofa!

Jun 21, 2008 12:37 AM

Tamara Perlman

Referral Network Inc. - Truckee, CA

Susan--

Nice job on preparing your kids for life (they won't be embarassed by anything). Enjoy this summer, they go too quickly, as you know with one off to college in the fall. My daughter gets her driving permit this summer...

Jun 21, 2008 07:23 AM

Jason Crouch

Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX

Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Susan - I am going to include this post in the Family Ties recap. Great and funny stuff! Thanks for sharing about Max.

Jun 22, 2008 12:55 PM

Susan Mangigian

RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA

Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Cool! Thanks Jason! You are a doll! By the way, tomorrow is Mom Held Hostage, Day 4.

Jun 22, 2008 01:12 PM

Pam Pugmire

Silvercreek Realty Group - Meridian, ID

Meridian Idaho Real Estate

Susan, your kids actually put their glasses in the SINK? WOW

I am in Day 18.....Enjoy!

Jun 22, 2008 06:07 PM

C Tann-Starr

Tann Starr & Associates, Inc. - Palm Bay, FL

Good morning Susan, how's the hostage situation coming along on such a fine and lovely morning? May I assume my favorite resident is being treated well by her captors? My warden children will be engaged in incarcerating holding my undivided attention very shortly... Just popping in to drop you a quick line to say hello and enjoy your day. Regards, Carolyn. ;-)

Jun 23, 2008 12:54 AM

Susan Mangigian

RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA

Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Judy, I did a co-cleaning team with my son Mike in his room Friday night. There were no less than 7 damp and smelly towels among the rest of the debris on the floor in there! The kid wonders why his allergies are so bad. The dust mites look like giant mosquitoes.

Dennis, I'm sure the summer will sadly fly by... but I hope to get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

Pam, did I mention that these boys take their socks off everywhere. This morning, I found one stuck behind a cushion on the couch and the other laying outside the screen door on the deck?

Carolyn, thanks for stopping by. By captors were still sleeping until I started running the vacuum! Thanks for popping in. I hope you enjoy your day as well... it's great getting to know you.

Jun 23, 2008 01:03 AM

C Tann-Starr

Tann Starr & Associates, Inc. - Palm Bay, FL

Hey Susan, thank you so much for your kind words and it is lovely getting to know you as well...

Jun 23, 2008 01:54 AM

Melody Botting

Broker Associate PenFed Realty - San Antonio, TX

You Deserve The Best

Enjoy it while you can! Wear plenty of sun screen!

Jun 23, 2008 09:47 AM