March 2023

 March started very busy.  We had to get CJ ready to go to All-State. She was going to be a Winshop University for 3 days studying music and performing with the best high school singers in the state.  I was so worried about her because she was going to stay in a hotel room with 2 other girls from Powersville high school that she did not know.  I was worried that she alarms would go off and she would upset the girls or that CJ was just being the rule-following CJ would upset the girls. After the first night, she texted me that she was having a great time and that the girls were so sweet.  She said by the end of the weekend that they were so kind and they were just like her.  I could not have been happier for her.  

On Saturday, Jay and I drove up to Winshop to watch her performance.  It was so good.  She even got to be one of the people that stood up to say why one of the songs was her favorite.  Her teacher was so happy that in both Regionals and State, she was chosen to read her writing before they sang.

After the concert, we went to dinner and hurried to the Peace Center to go see Beatle Juice.  Jay had to drop us off and was going to come to pick us back up at the end of the show.  Luckily, CJ had lots of friends at the show so we just had Millie take us home after the show so that Jay did not have to come back and get us.  It was a fun and silly show and besides CJ being so tired she was miserable it was a good time.  

Sunday is always CJ's date day with Connor.  I want to make hamantaschen for Purim so CJ told Connor that they had to come over to our house so that she could help with the hamantaschen.  I was glad that she came to help.  It is our thing to make hamantaschen each year.  Connor of course did not like it.  Sometimes I do not know why I even try to include him in things.  It is like he does not even want to try to get to know us or our culture.  

The week went by fast and by Friday CJ had her All-District performance.  She called me because she was so excited that she got the solo in the performance. Little did we know that was going to cause problems with one of her friends.  Jay and I went to her show and I was just stunned by her solo.  I did not know her voice could go so high and sound so beautiful.  The little girl sitting in front of me overheard her tell her mom, "That girl can be in an opera" It was so cute.  I think everyone was stunned by the fact that an alto could sing in such a high soprano voice. 

After the performance, CJ's friend Channesy stopped talking to her and some of the sopranos were jealous and saying that she only got the part because she was the favorite.

Saturday was Millie’s birthday party.  We got up and went for breakfast at Coady Coffee and then to the mall for a day of shopping.  The girls had so much fun running around trying on dresses. CJ found a dress that she loved and wanted to wear to prom.  All day we debated how she was going to do prom. Conner and Millie’s Prom were on the same night but CJ had her play that night as well.  So, who’s prom does she go to, and then who does she take to her prom.  It was so sad that everything was on the same night. I know that CJ wanted to please everyone. 

On Monday CJ did not have school.  She asked if she could go to lunch with her boyfriend.  It was weird not having her ask if she could come to have lunch with me and the ladies from work. After work, CJ and I did get together and go shopping.  She had her first conflict with Connor.  It was not a fight just that they were not getting along.  So she was happy when I called and asked if she wanted to go shopping with me. We talked about it being ok to have days like that with a boy.  Boys and just weird sometimes and can be stupid.  We had a very nice time shopping together.   

I am so struggling with letting her grow up like I should.  With that CJ asked us this week if she could get a social media account and keep her phone upstairs.  Jay said that we had to let her grow up and that in a few months, she will be on her own in college and we had to give her some freedom. We knew that we had to let her learn how to navigate social media with us around to help her deal with anything negative that may happen.  We were lucky because the first thing that she did was start a Beta club page for Palmetto high school.  She also created a page for herself and has been putting on just pictures of her and Millie or things about the play.

CJ got her cap and gown for graduation.  We ran to the park quick and took some quick pictures.  We will take better pictures later but at this time she just wanted some pictures.

Over the weekend CJ had the American Girl Doll club and volunteered at the museum.  CJ has been trying to work on figuring out how to increase participation in the club because she has to leave it.  

On Sunday, Jay had to leave for Louisiana.  CJ did not have Hebrew school that morning but had Choir practice.  So we met her at Temple so that she could ride with me to take Jay to the airport.  I then dropped her off at her car and she went to meet Connor for their Sunday together.  I came home and had a quiet evening at home.  Jay said that he spent the week eating as much Cajun food as he could get down. 

Tuesday, CJ had an appointment to see the Endocrinologist.  She wanted to go on her own, so I let her.  She said that the appointment went well but they upped her insulin ratio.  She also told us that she was going to get fired from her job if she did not work over the summer, so she quit. She decided to try and get a different job working at a restaurant so that they could be more flexible with her hours.  She applied to 3 different places.  I did not see CJ on Tuesday at all because, by the time she finished play practice, I was heading to my DKG meeting. 

Wednesday, Jay came home and CJ drove up to pick him up from the airport.  By the time she was able to get up to pick him up, he did not have to wait at all for her.  Sometimes I hate that she drives and I do not get as much time with her and then other times I am glad she drives and I do not have to worry about some things.

Friday Night CJ sang in the Choir at the temple. 

Saturday CJ and I spent most of the day shopping for swimsuits and outfits for our trip which was coming up fast.  We had fun shopping.  I found a swimsuit and some pants.  CJ found swimsuit bottoms and a dress.  We laughed at some of the outfits that I tried on.  I really have to be careful with clothes.

Sunday, CJ had Hebrew school and Choir practice.  We did not see CJ all day because after practice she went right over to Connor's.  

The last week of March, CJ was very busy with the play and then she had 2 interviews for a job.  One at Smoking Pig and one at Tropical Smoothy.  Smoking Pig after the interview never called her back after to tell her that they want in a different direction but Tropical Smoothy called her and asked her for a second interview.  By Thursday CJ had her CPA competition for the chorus at school.  Her group did really well and her teacher was so happy.  It was the best of his career.  I was just happy that CJ was part of that.  

That night while CJ was over at Connor's she asked if she could go with Connor and his family to see some event he was competing in on Saturday.  I told her that we planned on going to the temple's bingo night and due graduation pictures.  She told me that she would be back in plenty of time.  I told her that she could go but that I know better and she would not be back.  I was glad I had not purchased tickets already for the bingo.  She then asked if Friday night she could spend the night at Connor's.  I wanted to say, "Hell, No" you can not spend the night at your boyfriend's house.  She said that it was Connor's mom's idea because they had to get up so early on Saturday.  I can not believe that she even suggested that.  This whole situation would later cause a big argument between CJ and Jay and me.  I told her that Fridays we go to Temple together.  Not a good way to end the month.