So This Was My Day
Had planned on taking my daughter, young Galadriel Tanqueray Onassis, to go see "The Incredible Hulk" today, but the big green guy was a no-show. He won't be out till next week. Can't believe I got that wrong.
So after grabbing some lunch at Little Richard's Family Diner, we went to see the only character who could totally smash Hulk to a pulp. That's right, I'm talking about Kung Fu Panda!
It was entertaining. Jack Black as a fat CGI panda kung fu warrior. What's not to like? And it was only 90 minutes long. Skidoosh!
I offered to take her to see "The Strangers" because she likes scary movies, but she wanted to "save" that one to see with her friends...didn't want to "waste" it on her dad.
Nice!
Oh, and update on the whole ex-wife drama. The ex is not planning on returning to Richmond. But we both feel that it is critically important that GTO not get pulled out of the Richmond school district. So discussions have taken place and we are embarking down an unusual path. As of today, the plan is for GTO to spend the school year living with her best friend's family in rural Ray County. They love GTO and the two of them have been best friends since they attended dance and gymnastic class together when they were 4 years old.
It feels weird. It feels a little like putting her up for adoption. But I prefer to think of it as sending her to a boarding school. The bottom line is, the best thing for my daughter is to stay in Richmond where she's lived since she was 3 years old and is thriving. Yanking her out of the Richmond school district and forcing her to live with one of us in Independence and get dropped into the middle of Truman High where she doesn't know a single person would just fuck her up beyond recognition. I'm not prepared to do that to her.
We still need to work out the fine details, but that appears to be where we are headed. I would very much appreciate hearing what you folks think about this. You don't have to agree with our decision to comment on it. I really need to hear some other voices on this.
Okay. After the movie, I took GTO back to her half-sister's and headed over to the Sugar Creek Slavic Festival. I kinda looked it over from outside the gates and decided not to go. Admission was three bucks, all I had was plastic and they didn't appear to be set up for that. Plus it looked pretty lame. Bunch of old people listening to second rate polka music and gorging on kielbasa and cheap beer. Not really my scene.
Plus, in all honesty, I had a dyslexic moment. I thought it was going to be the Sugar Creek Slave Festival and that sounded pretty kewl.
Not what I had envisioned. At all. So disappointed.
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9 comments:
For what it's worth, I think it's an awesome idea and Im very relieved for both of you buddy. Oh plus, Im very pumped about the thumbs up to kung fu panda as Im sure Ill be seeing it. Sorry the slave festival didn't work out but you might be on to something!
Boarding school is a great way to think about it. I take from your posts the great importance of keeping GTO in Richmond schools. Since she's not living with you during school anyway, its not like you're giving up custody or time with GTO.
One bright spot is she's not living with TED's drama, and that can't be a bad thing.
FWIW
All I can add is double make sure everyone including the hosts commits for the school year. changing schools mid-year would totally sucks. otherwise, good for her and you.
I know a family that allowed a girl to live with them during her last year of high school because her parents moved away (Dad got transferred). It worked out great for the most part...just make sure GTO doesn't shave her legs while watching television.
One way to look at it is it's not as extreme as the student exchange program where kids live with families abroad and it doesn't hurt them...to the contrary.
On the other hand, we're talking about years here, right, and anything could happen with the circumstances or the attitude of the host family, with the kids themselves, even with the ex in that amount of time. My parents moved between my sis' junior and senior year and it was awful for her.
If it were me, I wouldn't do it because I'm a bit of a control freak, but you know your child and what's best for her. She does seem to be very well adjusted and stable and at least this is at the beginning of the high school experience rather than the end.
When I was little, my older brother's best friend lived with us for several months b/c his parents moved to Illinois, and he wanted to finish out 8th grade at the same school. From what I remember (at the time and hearing later), it worked out fine for all, except for the friend having to bear my kindergarten crush on him with me shouting "I love you Richard!" out my bedroom window at him.
I am sure you will not be the only one out there.
I had a friend who did the same thing with one of his kids, worked out fine.
On the slavic sausage fest. I'd like to note for the record that I refrained from taking a cheap shot at you, due to the serious tone of the first half of your post. But it wasnt easy.
Bah- don't worry about the "boarding" thing- sounds pretty damn cool to me.
Oh XO- "Bunch of old people listening to second rate polka music and gorging on kielbasa and cheap beer."
Wait- this was some Polish festival you spoke of- NOT a Grateful Dead reunion.
Never mind....
Cheers!
Groucho
...with my own RHS experience.. I would say.. she's probably best of moving.. lol ;) j/k I think it's a very selfless idea to let her be in a host house.
I bet I know her.. or at least my little cousin knows her... hmmm we should exchange stories soon!
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