Posts
I guess I don't understand. From the responses I've gotten, some as comments and some directly to my email, people seem to think I should discourage my son from telling me about Blondie or Bubble's behavior. There is no triad going on with my son, Bubbles and me. There are six of us in this family. My son is just as likely to tell us about Blondie or Bubbles, and he is just as likely to tell my husband or me. If my oldest daughter did something dangerous or stupid, he'd tell us about that too. We expect him to. We have encouraged him to. We should all be looking out for each other's welfare. That said, we have also discouraged him from tattling about every little thing. There are many things he has told us that we have ignored or told him that those were little things that didn't mean much. We don't expect him to know what is a big thing or what is small, so we just let him tell us everything he feels is important and we decide from there.
I really thought that bullying was a big deal, but evidently you guys don't. All you could see was that my son was doing something wrong. Well, I disagree. If one of my children is acting in a threatening manner toward a much smaller child, I need to be told. If one of my children is throwing things off the bus that could cause injury to a person or damage to a vehicle, I need to be told. If one of my children is standing up on the bus, and could be hurt if the bus comes to a sudden stop, I need to be told. I will not discourage my son or any of my children from telling me about harmful behavior.
Incidentally, my son tells us in private about these things.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Monday, April 17, 2006
Bullies?
Okay, I have some idea how to tell my children how to deal with bullies.
But what do you do when YOUR child is the bully?
Yesterday at church, Bubbles got in the face of a 4 year old child (Bubbles is 7) and angrily told her to "get away" because Bubbles wanted the seat that the 4 year old was headed for. She slammed her bible down in the chair and then leaned over the little girl in a menacing way until the girl left, clearly upset. My son witnessed the exchange and reported it right after church.
We made her write sentences, but I doubt that will have much affect. Does anybody have any advice for this situation?
But what do you do when YOUR child is the bully?
Yesterday at church, Bubbles got in the face of a 4 year old child (Bubbles is 7) and angrily told her to "get away" because Bubbles wanted the seat that the 4 year old was headed for. She slammed her bible down in the chair and then leaned over the little girl in a menacing way until the girl left, clearly upset. My son witnessed the exchange and reported it right after church.
We made her write sentences, but I doubt that will have much affect. Does anybody have any advice for this situation?
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Easter Preparations
With two younger children in the house this year, it was time to decorate Easter eggs and to craft a couple of new Easter baskets. Everyone had fun. We're headed to an Easter picnic this afternoon, and then we have lots of family joining us at our house tomorrow for Easter lunch. We'll be having lots of fun hunting Easter eggs!
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Getting Better
I took Bucky to the doctor Monday and she gave him steroids, antibiotics and some decongestant. By sheer force of will (his and mine) he stayed at school all day yesterday. He had to take his inhaler with him to school today, just in case, because he woke up wheezing this morning. He only has asthma when he gets sick, so normally he never needs an inhaler.
Today, I'm on my own again. I finally got the taxes done. I want to get into a routine, at least for the dishes, laundry and making dinner. I have other projects I need to work on, like making/fixing the curtains, gardening, etc. I've decided to go see my grandmother today. I wanted to go last week but I couldn't. I have to get some groceries today, so I'm combining trips to save gas.
Blondie and Bubbles both got in trouble at school on Monday. They came home and told me, and so they each had to write 25 sentences about behaving in school before they could do anything else. Bubbles had sentences left over from the day before, because she colored with sidewalk chalk on the back porch instead of the driveway, even though I told her not to. Then she told Boaz that she didn't remember she wasn't supposed to. That is her standard response to try to get out of trouble, "I forgot" or "I didn't hear you" even when she actually responded at the time. Anyway, she finally finished all her sentences last night.
Our social worker told me that CPS doesn't allow pointless punishments like moving objects from one place to another and then back again, but they do allow things like picking up trash. We have used that punishment when the girls are caught littering, but I like to make the consequences be related to the misbehavior, and it's really hard to do that sometimes. She said that CPS allows sentences, and recommended that we use that. We've been using it, but I don't like it much. And I don't see how it has a point either. I guess it does improve their handwriting, maybe, and it sort of constitutes a long time out.
I'm so proud of the improvements they have both made. Bubbles almost never wets the bed anymore. This is a remarkable improvement from when she arrived on two bedwetting medications and still wetting the bed five nights out of seven. Now neither girl is on any medication, and they don't need any. We have been working on their speech and grammar, and that is making big improvements too. My only struggle there is that Boaz thinks they sound "cute" and fusses at Babygirl when he hears her correcting them. It may be cute for seven and eight year olds not to be able to say "gargle" and "each other" so that it comes out "goggle" and "eashother" but it won't be cute when they are applying for jobs. They have to learn, and the younger they are the easier it will be. This is evidenced by the fact that the younger one, Bubbles, has already made more improvement than Blondie. I attribute this completely to the difference in their ages. Blondie has had longer to form bad habits.
God willing, I'll be home with all of them this summer. I hope to get Blondie and Bubbles a jump start on their school work next year. They've been behind due to no one working with them, but I've already seen a lot of improvement. Blondie could barely spell anything when she came to me in November, and couldn't even repeat the letters back to me right after saying them once. Now, she can run through a list of 20 words and get 16 or 17 of them right the first time, and be spelling the other three or four in about five minutes of working with her. It's amazing how much kids change when they have love and attention and feel secure.
This morning Bubbles told me that after God, she loved me more than anyone in the whole world. She's really a sweet little girl and very complimentary and willing to share. Blondie is a willing helper and loves to be right by your side, helping with whatever you are doing, especially if it is outside. It's so heartwarming to see her most days walking with Boaz out in the yard, watering the trees and other things. She's also a tough little thing. I'm glad she's not squeamish because we'd have a very hard time otherwise with the upcoming shots. She knows the shots will help her grow, and she asks frequently when we are going to start, because she is eager to get bigger.
I'm in a much better frame of mind than I was last week. I was sick last week too, through everything that happened, so that didn't help either. I want to relax and believe that I'm really going to be able to stay home and not go back to work, but right now I'm not really believing it I guess. We really don't have enough money, so I'm going to have to find a way to help out in that area. I just don't want to go back full time. My kids need me, and I need to take care of them. I'm not happy when I don't feel that I'm fulfilling their needs adequately. I still feel like I have so much to do.
So I'd better end this post and get started....
Today, I'm on my own again. I finally got the taxes done. I want to get into a routine, at least for the dishes, laundry and making dinner. I have other projects I need to work on, like making/fixing the curtains, gardening, etc. I've decided to go see my grandmother today. I wanted to go last week but I couldn't. I have to get some groceries today, so I'm combining trips to save gas.
Blondie and Bubbles both got in trouble at school on Monday. They came home and told me, and so they each had to write 25 sentences about behaving in school before they could do anything else. Bubbles had sentences left over from the day before, because she colored with sidewalk chalk on the back porch instead of the driveway, even though I told her not to. Then she told Boaz that she didn't remember she wasn't supposed to. That is her standard response to try to get out of trouble, "I forgot" or "I didn't hear you" even when she actually responded at the time. Anyway, she finally finished all her sentences last night.
Our social worker told me that CPS doesn't allow pointless punishments like moving objects from one place to another and then back again, but they do allow things like picking up trash. We have used that punishment when the girls are caught littering, but I like to make the consequences be related to the misbehavior, and it's really hard to do that sometimes. She said that CPS allows sentences, and recommended that we use that. We've been using it, but I don't like it much. And I don't see how it has a point either. I guess it does improve their handwriting, maybe, and it sort of constitutes a long time out.
I'm so proud of the improvements they have both made. Bubbles almost never wets the bed anymore. This is a remarkable improvement from when she arrived on two bedwetting medications and still wetting the bed five nights out of seven. Now neither girl is on any medication, and they don't need any. We have been working on their speech and grammar, and that is making big improvements too. My only struggle there is that Boaz thinks they sound "cute" and fusses at Babygirl when he hears her correcting them. It may be cute for seven and eight year olds not to be able to say "gargle" and "each other" so that it comes out "goggle" and "eashother" but it won't be cute when they are applying for jobs. They have to learn, and the younger they are the easier it will be. This is evidenced by the fact that the younger one, Bubbles, has already made more improvement than Blondie. I attribute this completely to the difference in their ages. Blondie has had longer to form bad habits.
God willing, I'll be home with all of them this summer. I hope to get Blondie and Bubbles a jump start on their school work next year. They've been behind due to no one working with them, but I've already seen a lot of improvement. Blondie could barely spell anything when she came to me in November, and couldn't even repeat the letters back to me right after saying them once. Now, she can run through a list of 20 words and get 16 or 17 of them right the first time, and be spelling the other three or four in about five minutes of working with her. It's amazing how much kids change when they have love and attention and feel secure.
This morning Bubbles told me that after God, she loved me more than anyone in the whole world. She's really a sweet little girl and very complimentary and willing to share. Blondie is a willing helper and loves to be right by your side, helping with whatever you are doing, especially if it is outside. It's so heartwarming to see her most days walking with Boaz out in the yard, watering the trees and other things. She's also a tough little thing. I'm glad she's not squeamish because we'd have a very hard time otherwise with the upcoming shots. She knows the shots will help her grow, and she asks frequently when we are going to start, because she is eager to get bigger.
I'm in a much better frame of mind than I was last week. I was sick last week too, through everything that happened, so that didn't help either. I want to relax and believe that I'm really going to be able to stay home and not go back to work, but right now I'm not really believing it I guess. We really don't have enough money, so I'm going to have to find a way to help out in that area. I just don't want to go back full time. My kids need me, and I need to take care of them. I'm not happy when I don't feel that I'm fulfilling their needs adequately. I still feel like I have so much to do.
So I'd better end this post and get started....
Monday, April 03, 2006
So It's Been A Week So Far
People keep asking me how it's going being a SAHM. Honestly, the first week was awful, but I guess that depends on your expectations. My expectations were different than how it went.
Blondie did stay home with me on Friday. She was sick through the weekend. The bright spot was last Saturday when I went to see my new baby cousin in the hospital. It was my cousin's first baby, and the love in her eyes for the baby really touched me. The maternal instinct is strong and takes over quickly. :)
The week started out okay on Monday. The social worker was scheduled to visit at 4:30 and Blondie had an appointment to find out if she will be on growth hormone shots at 2:45. I rushed around straightening the house and doing dishes. Then I put in a call to the social worker because I was afraid we wouldn't be home before she got here. She called back and we rescheduled the appointment for Tuesday. So I stopped cleaning house and made supper instead. I talked to my best friend and we went over our lessons for our bible study while I chopped onions.
I took Blondie to the doctor and found out that her growth hormone level is so low that she will probably need to take the shots for the rest of her life. Most people get to stop when they are 16. She is scheduled for an MRI next week, and the shots will probably start in about three weeks. The doctor said that the insurance company takes that over from here, and they will send someone to our house with the medication and teach me how to give the shots. It is possible that Boaz will be the one to give her the shot each night, because he used to give himself allergy shots and is less squeamish about the whole thing. I could do it, but I'll gladly step aside if he is willing. :)
On Tuesday, Bucky got sick. I had to pick him up early from school. Bucky has already missed 15 days of school this year, and can only miss 18 days if he wants to pass sixth grade. Fortunately he was there for homeroom and wasn't counted absent. He didn't get well. I had to pick him up right after homeroom every day last week. I'm going to take him to the doctor today. If he doesn't have strep then I'm going to ask them to give him a steroid shot. Usually I hate that type of thing, but the kid isn't getting well. He is weak and has a sore throat. It started out with a stomachache, and he is now congested and just generally feels bad. He has had fever, but it's never been over 99.5. I think it's just some kind of weird virus that won't go away.
On Wednesday night, Bubbles reported a loud noise coming from the garage. Bucky went to check, and it turns out that a pipe had broken and water was pouring into the garage. Boaz ran out and turned it off. We didn't have the necessary equipment to fix it right then. So we took the kids to church, except Bucky who was sick and stayed home, and Boaz went to the hardware store while I checked the kids in. We ate dinner and took the kids home. When we got there with the right parts, Boaz realized that his glue was dried up. Yea! So now we were looking at an entire day without water on Thursday until Boaz could pick up some glue on the way home from work. Yea! Can you tell how excited I was about not having water in the house?
Babygirl, Blondie and Bubbles had to go without baths on Thursday. Fortunately I had one Wednesday, but the girls had theirs on Tuesday. Bucky never bathes anyway...okay, he does, but let's just say bathing isn't high on the priority list for him. I have to harass him to get him clean regularly.
Early Thursday morning I was out at the faucet that comes off the well, filling buckets to bring water into the house. We had to have it to be able to flush the toilets. I won't give the details of the toilet ordeals, but let's just say it wasn't fun. We couldn't even wash our hands much. I would pour some water into the sink and use the stopper, and then everyone would wash in the same water. Eww. You never know what a blessing it is to have running water in your house until you don't have it.
Guess what! Boaz got asked to work late on Thursday! Yea! That meant that the water situation would continue until late that night. Finally, he got home at 9pm and fixed the broken pipe. I was worn out and unhappy about how my first week had gone, and I was really hoping for a nice day on Friday. Then Boaz checked the messages on the phone and there was one from the church secretary asking me to help out at the church on Friday morning. After a big sigh, I decided that I would do it. I thought maybe God was testing me to see if I would really put him first even after a week like I had just had.
So Friday I went up to church and played receptionist. Of course, I had to take a short break to go pick up Bucky from school. There was a loveseat in the church office, and he was able to rest on it and play his Nintendo DS. I also got to eat lunch with a good friend who works at the church, and that was very nice.
I had a pretty good weekend. Babygirl, Bubbles and I planted tomatoes, peppers, corn and flowers while Boaz rode on his tractor, Bucky played games in the house, and Blondie wrote sentences.
Blondie had a very bad day on Friday. She brought home a note from her teacher stating they had had a rough day and that Blondie had been very argumentative with her. Blondie also brought home a sandwich that wasn't hers and tried to hide it from me. We have received complaints from her teacher that she begs other kids for food, so she has been told that she is not allowed to take any food from other kids. I asked Blondie to bring me her backpack so that we could get rid of all the old papers and such, and she removed the sandwich and the part of her lunch that she hadn't eated and left it in the dining room. I happened to walk into the kitchen for something, and I heard a bag rattling in the dining room. I went to check, and there was our cat, Joey, enjoying a peanut butter sandwich on white bread. I knew immediately from both the color of the ziploc bag and the white bread that it didn't come from our home. I asked both girls about it, and both denied that it was theirs, and then Blondie started babbling that it belonged to her friend, but she had no idea how it ended up in her bag, blah, blah, blah. Suddenly I heard rattling again! This time Joey was happily enjoying an orange slice and some cherry tomatoes that Blondie didn't eat.
I called my SIL who is a social worker for advice. Obviously if Blondie is bringing food home, I'm sending enough food in her lunch. So I don't think I need to send m0re food. On the other hand, I don't want to send less food until she doesn't have enough and that increases her need to ask others for their food. My SIL suggested that I ask her each day what fruit she would like and how much of it.
Boaz decided that since Blondie wanted the sandwich so bad that she brought it home, then she had to eat it. We cut off the parts that Joey had nibbled, and Blondie got to eat it while we had homemade burritos. She said that it wasn't very good because it didn't have any jelly on it, and the peanut butter didn't taste as good as ours. She also said that she doesn't want anyone else's food anymore because she wants to eat what we're having. I guess we'll see. I don't know what else to do to keep her from begging for food at school. I know her friends won't like her if she keeps it up, but how can I convince her to stop?
On Sunday we went to church, and then I took Babygirl and Blondie shopping with me for new summer clothes. Bubbles was supposed to go, but she refused to eat her lunch because it included a salad, which resulted in her not being able to go shopping. I told her that she would be tired if she didn't have energy from not eating. She was quite happy to have her salad at dinner time. I guess skipping lunch can even make a salad taste good.
I really hope this week is better.
Blondie did stay home with me on Friday. She was sick through the weekend. The bright spot was last Saturday when I went to see my new baby cousin in the hospital. It was my cousin's first baby, and the love in her eyes for the baby really touched me. The maternal instinct is strong and takes over quickly. :)
The week started out okay on Monday. The social worker was scheduled to visit at 4:30 and Blondie had an appointment to find out if she will be on growth hormone shots at 2:45. I rushed around straightening the house and doing dishes. Then I put in a call to the social worker because I was afraid we wouldn't be home before she got here. She called back and we rescheduled the appointment for Tuesday. So I stopped cleaning house and made supper instead. I talked to my best friend and we went over our lessons for our bible study while I chopped onions.
I took Blondie to the doctor and found out that her growth hormone level is so low that she will probably need to take the shots for the rest of her life. Most people get to stop when they are 16. She is scheduled for an MRI next week, and the shots will probably start in about three weeks. The doctor said that the insurance company takes that over from here, and they will send someone to our house with the medication and teach me how to give the shots. It is possible that Boaz will be the one to give her the shot each night, because he used to give himself allergy shots and is less squeamish about the whole thing. I could do it, but I'll gladly step aside if he is willing. :)
On Tuesday, Bucky got sick. I had to pick him up early from school. Bucky has already missed 15 days of school this year, and can only miss 18 days if he wants to pass sixth grade. Fortunately he was there for homeroom and wasn't counted absent. He didn't get well. I had to pick him up right after homeroom every day last week. I'm going to take him to the doctor today. If he doesn't have strep then I'm going to ask them to give him a steroid shot. Usually I hate that type of thing, but the kid isn't getting well. He is weak and has a sore throat. It started out with a stomachache, and he is now congested and just generally feels bad. He has had fever, but it's never been over 99.5. I think it's just some kind of weird virus that won't go away.
On Wednesday night, Bubbles reported a loud noise coming from the garage. Bucky went to check, and it turns out that a pipe had broken and water was pouring into the garage. Boaz ran out and turned it off. We didn't have the necessary equipment to fix it right then. So we took the kids to church, except Bucky who was sick and stayed home, and Boaz went to the hardware store while I checked the kids in. We ate dinner and took the kids home. When we got there with the right parts, Boaz realized that his glue was dried up. Yea! So now we were looking at an entire day without water on Thursday until Boaz could pick up some glue on the way home from work. Yea! Can you tell how excited I was about not having water in the house?
Babygirl, Blondie and Bubbles had to go without baths on Thursday. Fortunately I had one Wednesday, but the girls had theirs on Tuesday. Bucky never bathes anyway...okay, he does, but let's just say bathing isn't high on the priority list for him. I have to harass him to get him clean regularly.
Early Thursday morning I was out at the faucet that comes off the well, filling buckets to bring water into the house. We had to have it to be able to flush the toilets. I won't give the details of the toilet ordeals, but let's just say it wasn't fun. We couldn't even wash our hands much. I would pour some water into the sink and use the stopper, and then everyone would wash in the same water. Eww. You never know what a blessing it is to have running water in your house until you don't have it.
Guess what! Boaz got asked to work late on Thursday! Yea! That meant that the water situation would continue until late that night. Finally, he got home at 9pm and fixed the broken pipe. I was worn out and unhappy about how my first week had gone, and I was really hoping for a nice day on Friday. Then Boaz checked the messages on the phone and there was one from the church secretary asking me to help out at the church on Friday morning. After a big sigh, I decided that I would do it. I thought maybe God was testing me to see if I would really put him first even after a week like I had just had.
So Friday I went up to church and played receptionist. Of course, I had to take a short break to go pick up Bucky from school. There was a loveseat in the church office, and he was able to rest on it and play his Nintendo DS. I also got to eat lunch with a good friend who works at the church, and that was very nice.
I had a pretty good weekend. Babygirl, Bubbles and I planted tomatoes, peppers, corn and flowers while Boaz rode on his tractor, Bucky played games in the house, and Blondie wrote sentences.
Blondie had a very bad day on Friday. She brought home a note from her teacher stating they had had a rough day and that Blondie had been very argumentative with her. Blondie also brought home a sandwich that wasn't hers and tried to hide it from me. We have received complaints from her teacher that she begs other kids for food, so she has been told that she is not allowed to take any food from other kids. I asked Blondie to bring me her backpack so that we could get rid of all the old papers and such, and she removed the sandwich and the part of her lunch that she hadn't eated and left it in the dining room. I happened to walk into the kitchen for something, and I heard a bag rattling in the dining room. I went to check, and there was our cat, Joey, enjoying a peanut butter sandwich on white bread. I knew immediately from both the color of the ziploc bag and the white bread that it didn't come from our home. I asked both girls about it, and both denied that it was theirs, and then Blondie started babbling that it belonged to her friend, but she had no idea how it ended up in her bag, blah, blah, blah. Suddenly I heard rattling again! This time Joey was happily enjoying an orange slice and some cherry tomatoes that Blondie didn't eat.
I called my SIL who is a social worker for advice. Obviously if Blondie is bringing food home, I'm sending enough food in her lunch. So I don't think I need to send m0re food. On the other hand, I don't want to send less food until she doesn't have enough and that increases her need to ask others for their food. My SIL suggested that I ask her each day what fruit she would like and how much of it.
Boaz decided that since Blondie wanted the sandwich so bad that she brought it home, then she had to eat it. We cut off the parts that Joey had nibbled, and Blondie got to eat it while we had homemade burritos. She said that it wasn't very good because it didn't have any jelly on it, and the peanut butter didn't taste as good as ours. She also said that she doesn't want anyone else's food anymore because she wants to eat what we're having. I guess we'll see. I don't know what else to do to keep her from begging for food at school. I know her friends won't like her if she keeps it up, but how can I convince her to stop?
On Sunday we went to church, and then I took Babygirl and Blondie shopping with me for new summer clothes. Bubbles was supposed to go, but she refused to eat her lunch because it included a salad, which resulted in her not being able to go shopping. I told her that she would be tired if she didn't have energy from not eating. She was quite happy to have her salad at dinner time. I guess skipping lunch can even make a salad taste good.
I really hope this week is better.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Three A.M. on my First Day Off
Well here I sit. I've had trouble sleeping for the last week. There are a few reasons I can think of: 1) Nerves over quitting my job 2) I've been lying in bed too long every morning, dreading putting in those last few days at work 3) I haven't been taking my cal-mag supplements that keep my sleep regular.
So anyway, I fully expected to sleep like a baby tonight. Or maybe it was last night by now. Anyway, I woke up at 2:38 and realized my electric blanket was still on, and I was HOT. I'd just had a nightmare about witnessing a head-on collision. I was wide awake. Since I woke up yesterday at 3:45 and disturbed my husband with my tossing and turning, I decided to sneak out quietly, because he has to get up in an hour and go to work all day and really needs his sleep. I had to get my robe from the closet and then I tiptoed to the door and was struggling to open the door without making a sound, when suddenly I hear, "Just go on out and don't come back, I need to get my sleep!" I bit my tongue to keep from retorting that I was doing exactly that, because it would defeat my purpose to wake him up further by fighting with him.
My cat heard me get up and was determined to be let out of the laundry room. He was making quite a racket. My dilemma is that sometimes he tries to open my bedroom door, and that wouldn't really help Boaz sleep if that happens. On the other hand, a yowling door banging cat won't either, so I took the risk. Then the unsatisified cat was determined to be fed. Normally he doesn't eat until 6am, but since cats can't tell time, he decided now was the right time. So he's in there crunching away.
Blondie went to bed with a cold, so I gave her half a dose of nyquil to help her. Evidently it didn't work as well as I had hoped. She was coughing so loud it sounded like she had her mouth open, pointed straight at the bedroom door, putting as much force behind it as she could. I decided to give her some Triaminic Cough & Sore Throat tablets that I have, hoping that would help her sleep for the rest of the night. Halfway up the stairs I had a short debate with myself about whether I should go back down and get her a drink of water. The side that wanted to get the water won out, since it pointed out that if she asks for a drink I'd have to go right back down anyway. So I slipped into Blondie's room with the drink and medicine. She was awake and obviously not feeling well. I gave her the drink first and she gulped away. (Good thing I listened to myself.) Then I gave her the medicine which she chewed up and then she gulped the rest of her water.
So goes the start of my first day off. And it looks like there's a good chance I'll have some company.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Just So Happy
I'm so happy that I'm going to get to stay home. Things are going so smoothly. I've told my parents and my in-laws, and it wasn't nearly as painful as the last time I discussed it with them. The current plan is that I'll stay home for at least six months, and then we'll re-evaluate whether we can continue that or if I need to go back to work. God may have something in store that we don't know about yet, so I'm not making any definite plans. I always have my degree to fall back on if I need to and in the meantime we'll see what opportunities arise.
My mom is keeping Blondie and Bubbles for a few days this week during Spring Break. They have been doing much better than the first time she babysat them. I gave them a stern talk before leaving both mornings this week, plus I've been calling and talking to them on the phone if necessary. However, it's so hard to be stern when I hear those precious little voices on the phone. Too cute!
Babygirl returned home safe and sound from Tennessee last night. She had a great time. We talked for over two hours, with her telling me about her trip and me recounting the days while she was gone. She is such a precious girl and she is growing into a beautiful and wonderful young woman.
My mom is keeping Blondie and Bubbles for a few days this week during Spring Break. They have been doing much better than the first time she babysat them. I gave them a stern talk before leaving both mornings this week, plus I've been calling and talking to them on the phone if necessary. However, it's so hard to be stern when I hear those precious little voices on the phone. Too cute!
Babygirl returned home safe and sound from Tennessee last night. She had a great time. We talked for over two hours, with her telling me about her trip and me recounting the days while she was gone. She is such a precious girl and she is growing into a beautiful and wonderful young woman.
Monday, March 13, 2006
I Did It
I came in to work today and gave my two weeks' notice. It's a done deal. My boss took it better than I could have hoped. He told me that HIS wife is quitting HER job too, and he completely understands! That was a big relief.
I'm so happy and full of joy. We bought little tomato and pepper plants, and some flower seeds just for fun. We tilled the garden to get it ready. We can't plant yet because we still may get another freeze.
There were baby chickens at the feed store, and Bucky, Blondie and Bubbles fell in love. We are considering building a chicken coop and raising hens for laying eggs. (Yes, I know it means I'm not a vegan if I eat eggs, and yes I eat eggs sometimes.) Bucky got excited and wants to buy some chickens of his own and sell the eggs for extra money. I wonder how long the excitement will last when he actually has to care for them? Fortunately, I want some chickens too, so I can take care of them if he loses interest. I think he just wants to hold them and play with them, and it will be a little different when they grow up. But we'll see.
We're going on vacation this week! Hooray! I'll post some pictures when we get back.
I'm so happy and full of joy. We bought little tomato and pepper plants, and some flower seeds just for fun. We tilled the garden to get it ready. We can't plant yet because we still may get another freeze.
There were baby chickens at the feed store, and Bucky, Blondie and Bubbles fell in love. We are considering building a chicken coop and raising hens for laying eggs. (Yes, I know it means I'm not a vegan if I eat eggs, and yes I eat eggs sometimes.) Bucky got excited and wants to buy some chickens of his own and sell the eggs for extra money. I wonder how long the excitement will last when he actually has to care for them? Fortunately, I want some chickens too, so I can take care of them if he loses interest. I think he just wants to hold them and play with them, and it will be a little different when they grow up. But we'll see.
We're going on vacation this week! Hooray! I'll post some pictures when we get back.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
One Sentence Per Year
Okay, I saw this over on Tamara's blog.
Here goes:
1. I was born very close to Christmas (1968).
2. I moved several times with my parents and we lived with my grandparents off and on. (1969)
3. We moved to Arizona to be close to my mom's sister, and so my dad could work for my uncle. (1970)
4. We moved back to Texas. (1971)
5. We lived in a small two bedroom house and my dog Penny got hit by a train. We accidentally ran over her puppy, Little Penny, who was sleeping behind a tire.(1972)
6. We moved into the three bedroom house next door. I received two baby ducks for an Easter gift. They didn't die and we had to build a pen in the back yard for them. Eventually they were moved out to my grandmother's farm where they reproduced prolifically. (1973)
7. I began kindergarten. I rode to school with a neighbor who had a little pond in front of their house, and I fell into it. I also received a puppy for Halloween, that was given to me in a plastic Halloween bag. He was black with tan markings and we named him Roscoe. (1974)
8. A white dog showed up at our house and wouldn't leave. My parents made me throw rocks at her, but she was determined to stay (it probably didn't help that I petted her when they weren't looking) and she got adopted and named Casey. (1975)
9. We move to a nicer house in a nicer part of town. I meet my best friend for life. (1976)
10. I have a mean old third grade teacher who eats, burps and sleeps through the year. I spend a week with my grandmother in the summer. (1977)
11. I have a wonderful sweet fourth grade teacher who has a sister who is an artist, and she comes to class and teaches us how to draw. (1978)
12. My grandfather gets very sick with lung cancer and dies. I am devastated. I loved to ride on the tractor with him. (1979)
13. My widowed grandmother remarries, which greatly distresses my mother. (1980)
14. I begin junior high school. I have a crush on the boy down the street. He asks one of my best friends to be his girlfriend instead of me. My mother buys me a hair dryer for Christmas and then won't let me use it because it might "hurt" my hair. I'm allowed to wear lipstick and blush only. I walk into my algebra class and hear the most popular girl in school making fun of me.(1981)
15. I hate eighth grade. How awkward. I'm very tall for thirteen, and I stop growing. (1982)
16. I'm allowed to wear full makeup. I'm awkward, smart and not popular. (1983)
17. I find out that one of my friends was molested by her adopted father for the past eight years. She becomes a slut and her sister, also molested, becomes a lesbian. (1984)
18. I meet my future husband at a party I'm not supposed to be at. (1985)
19. I get a job at an outlet clothing store and continue to date my boyfriend. My best friend dates his best friend all through high school. I'm an honor student. My boyfriend gets diagnosed with cancer, has radiation treatment, and is pronounced cured. (1986)
20. I graduate from high school and get married that summer. I move to Austin to go to college. We get a puppy and name her Newton.(1987)
21. My husband is diagosed with cancer again and has chemotherapy. We are we probably won't be able to have children, so we have some sperm frozen before the chemo starts. We also make a half-hearted attempt to get pregnant but it doesn't work. (1988)
22. After the chemo is completed, I get pregnant accidentally. We weren't trying not to, but we thought it wasn't possible. (1989)
23. My husband gets cancer for a third time when I am seven month pregnant with Babygirl. He dies when she is four months old. (1990)
24. I get a full time job and move in with my best friend. My mom babysits Babygirl while I work. I have unhealthy relationships with a couple of guys. I meet Boaz at church. (1991)
25. Boaz asks me out a couple of times but I don't go. Finally we go out, and the next week he attends Babygirl's 2nd birthday party. We get pretty serious by the end of the year. (1992)
26. I marry Boaz. At the end of the year, Bucky is born. (1993)
27. We move from our two bedroom townhouse to a three bedroom rent house. (1994)
28. We struggle working two full time jobs and raising two kids. (1995)
29. A hail storm beats the crap out of our car, we take the $5000 in insurance money and make a downpayment on a house. Three weeks later I go back to college. I decided if I have to work I want to make more money, though I'd really rather stay home. (1996)
30. I go to college. During this time my in-laws help with babysitting and my husband takes care of all the housework so I can study. I do not work. I stay home in the summers with my kids and don't take any classes so they will know me. (1997-1999).
31. I get a good job making lots of money. (2000)
32. We buy a big house in the country two weeks after 9/11. We get our family back into church.(2001)
33. We work and raise kids. (2002)
34. My mother-in-law has a stroke and become bedridden. She was a major part of our lives and this is very distressing. (2003)
34. I hurt my leg and get sciatica. I want to quit my job so bad I go into a minor depression toward the end of the year. (2004)
35. I vow not to be depressed anymore, and if I can never quit, so be it. I decide to live my life to the fullest the best I can. We decide to adopt more kids. We throw ourselves into our real estate business. At the end of the year, we adopt Blondie and Bubbles. (2005)
36. So here we are, and I still want to quit my job, and hopefully it will be soon.
Here goes:
1. I was born very close to Christmas (1968).
2. I moved several times with my parents and we lived with my grandparents off and on. (1969)
3. We moved to Arizona to be close to my mom's sister, and so my dad could work for my uncle. (1970)
4. We moved back to Texas. (1971)
5. We lived in a small two bedroom house and my dog Penny got hit by a train. We accidentally ran over her puppy, Little Penny, who was sleeping behind a tire.(1972)
6. We moved into the three bedroom house next door. I received two baby ducks for an Easter gift. They didn't die and we had to build a pen in the back yard for them. Eventually they were moved out to my grandmother's farm where they reproduced prolifically. (1973)
7. I began kindergarten. I rode to school with a neighbor who had a little pond in front of their house, and I fell into it. I also received a puppy for Halloween, that was given to me in a plastic Halloween bag. He was black with tan markings and we named him Roscoe. (1974)
8. A white dog showed up at our house and wouldn't leave. My parents made me throw rocks at her, but she was determined to stay (it probably didn't help that I petted her when they weren't looking) and she got adopted and named Casey. (1975)
9. We move to a nicer house in a nicer part of town. I meet my best friend for life. (1976)
10. I have a mean old third grade teacher who eats, burps and sleeps through the year. I spend a week with my grandmother in the summer. (1977)
11. I have a wonderful sweet fourth grade teacher who has a sister who is an artist, and she comes to class and teaches us how to draw. (1978)
12. My grandfather gets very sick with lung cancer and dies. I am devastated. I loved to ride on the tractor with him. (1979)
13. My widowed grandmother remarries, which greatly distresses my mother. (1980)
14. I begin junior high school. I have a crush on the boy down the street. He asks one of my best friends to be his girlfriend instead of me. My mother buys me a hair dryer for Christmas and then won't let me use it because it might "hurt" my hair. I'm allowed to wear lipstick and blush only. I walk into my algebra class and hear the most popular girl in school making fun of me.(1981)
15. I hate eighth grade. How awkward. I'm very tall for thirteen, and I stop growing. (1982)
16. I'm allowed to wear full makeup. I'm awkward, smart and not popular. (1983)
17. I find out that one of my friends was molested by her adopted father for the past eight years. She becomes a slut and her sister, also molested, becomes a lesbian. (1984)
18. I meet my future husband at a party I'm not supposed to be at. (1985)
19. I get a job at an outlet clothing store and continue to date my boyfriend. My best friend dates his best friend all through high school. I'm an honor student. My boyfriend gets diagnosed with cancer, has radiation treatment, and is pronounced cured. (1986)
20. I graduate from high school and get married that summer. I move to Austin to go to college. We get a puppy and name her Newton.(1987)
21. My husband is diagosed with cancer again and has chemotherapy. We are we probably won't be able to have children, so we have some sperm frozen before the chemo starts. We also make a half-hearted attempt to get pregnant but it doesn't work. (1988)
22. After the chemo is completed, I get pregnant accidentally. We weren't trying not to, but we thought it wasn't possible. (1989)
23. My husband gets cancer for a third time when I am seven month pregnant with Babygirl. He dies when she is four months old. (1990)
24. I get a full time job and move in with my best friend. My mom babysits Babygirl while I work. I have unhealthy relationships with a couple of guys. I meet Boaz at church. (1991)
25. Boaz asks me out a couple of times but I don't go. Finally we go out, and the next week he attends Babygirl's 2nd birthday party. We get pretty serious by the end of the year. (1992)
26. I marry Boaz. At the end of the year, Bucky is born. (1993)
27. We move from our two bedroom townhouse to a three bedroom rent house. (1994)
28. We struggle working two full time jobs and raising two kids. (1995)
29. A hail storm beats the crap out of our car, we take the $5000 in insurance money and make a downpayment on a house. Three weeks later I go back to college. I decided if I have to work I want to make more money, though I'd really rather stay home. (1996)
30. I go to college. During this time my in-laws help with babysitting and my husband takes care of all the housework so I can study. I do not work. I stay home in the summers with my kids and don't take any classes so they will know me. (1997-1999).
31. I get a good job making lots of money. (2000)
32. We buy a big house in the country two weeks after 9/11. We get our family back into church.(2001)
33. We work and raise kids. (2002)
34. My mother-in-law has a stroke and become bedridden. She was a major part of our lives and this is very distressing. (2003)
34. I hurt my leg and get sciatica. I want to quit my job so bad I go into a minor depression toward the end of the year. (2004)
35. I vow not to be depressed anymore, and if I can never quit, so be it. I decide to live my life to the fullest the best I can. We decide to adopt more kids. We throw ourselves into our real estate business. At the end of the year, we adopt Blondie and Bubbles. (2005)
36. So here we are, and I still want to quit my job, and hopefully it will be soon.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
On Again, Off Again, On Again...and A Birthday Party
The stress is just too much. I'll be quitting my job very soon. In fact, I would have put in my notice yesterday....but one of our tenants moved out on Saturday. Another one plans to move out in the next week or two. With that in mind, I need to continue to work until these houses have new tenants in them. We are turning both of the houses over to a property management company. It has been quite an ordeal making calls and chasing rent payments. With these two houses turned over, we'll only have three left that we are managing ourselves, and two of those are good tenants who pay every month on time.
So the current plan is that I will put in my notice as soon as the new houses have tenants. Hallelujah. I really can't wait much longer. I have tried to explain to Boaz many times how I feel, but it's difficult for him to understand. When I tell him that I'm upset that I can't make dinner every night due to time constraints, he tells me to not worry about it, and it's okay if we eat sandwiches all the time. When I tell him that I want to be able to spend more time with the kids, he tells me that the kids are fine and not to worry about it. When I tell him that I'm upset because the house isn't clean, he tells me not to worry about it.
My best friend really put the whole thing in perspective when I talked to her about it. She said that a man's primary job (in his mind) is to be a provider (okay, for most men, I know there are some great Mr. Moms out there). When a man is providing, he feels like a success. If he loses his job and can't provide, he feels like a failure. It's different for a woman (like me anyway). When my house is a wreck, kids want more time with me, dinner is never made, I feel like a failure. When my house is running smoothly and my kids are happy, I feel like a success. It doesn't matter if I was making $500,000 a year, I would still feel like a failure if I couldn't run my home. On the other hand, if the house is a mess, my husband doesn't feel like a failure. It has absolutely no bearing on his self esteem.
Right now the problem is that because I know I'll be quitting soon, that is creating problems of its own. I feel like I'm keeping a big secret when I'm at work. None of them know I'm even considering leaving. Also, I'm trying, at least in my mind, to begin taking on the tasks I will do when I am at home. Boaz correctly diagnosed that and told me to quit it because I "can't ride two horses at the same time". I have to try to keep doing my current role successfully until I can make the switch. It's very hard though, because home is truly where my heart is, and I'm SO CLOSE now. I've never been good at waiting, especially when it is something as big as this. I feel like I want to scream or puke most of the time from being so anxious.
But on with life for now. Bubbles is having a birthday this week. We have planned her very first birthday party. I'm so happy to be able to do this for her. I gave her some invitations to hand out at school, but in retrospect I think I should have mailed them. She gave out a couple to some kids four years older than her! I told her that she needs to give them to kids her own age, and that the older kids most likely won't come to her party. I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but she had a few invitations left and I wanted her to give them to age appropriate kids, who would be excited about her party.
Oh well, if nobody comes, then we'll have a fun time with just our family. More cake for us! I had fun buying birthday presents for her. She's getting a Baby Doctor Barbie, a Barbie play house, and a new purse. The child absolutely loves purses! She has a very ugly one that she brought with her from her foster mom's house, so I'm hoping she'll like the new one better. Babygirl is actually embarrassed when Bubbles' carries the current one around. LOL
Babygirl is leaving Thursday night to go to Tennessee with her choir group. They are going to see Elvis' place, and record a song at a real recording studio. That night they will be going to a club that will play the song they recorded while they are there. I wish I was going too!
So the current plan is that I will put in my notice as soon as the new houses have tenants. Hallelujah. I really can't wait much longer. I have tried to explain to Boaz many times how I feel, but it's difficult for him to understand. When I tell him that I'm upset that I can't make dinner every night due to time constraints, he tells me to not worry about it, and it's okay if we eat sandwiches all the time. When I tell him that I want to be able to spend more time with the kids, he tells me that the kids are fine and not to worry about it. When I tell him that I'm upset because the house isn't clean, he tells me not to worry about it.
My best friend really put the whole thing in perspective when I talked to her about it. She said that a man's primary job (in his mind) is to be a provider (okay, for most men, I know there are some great Mr. Moms out there). When a man is providing, he feels like a success. If he loses his job and can't provide, he feels like a failure. It's different for a woman (like me anyway). When my house is a wreck, kids want more time with me, dinner is never made, I feel like a failure. When my house is running smoothly and my kids are happy, I feel like a success. It doesn't matter if I was making $500,000 a year, I would still feel like a failure if I couldn't run my home. On the other hand, if the house is a mess, my husband doesn't feel like a failure. It has absolutely no bearing on his self esteem.
Right now the problem is that because I know I'll be quitting soon, that is creating problems of its own. I feel like I'm keeping a big secret when I'm at work. None of them know I'm even considering leaving. Also, I'm trying, at least in my mind, to begin taking on the tasks I will do when I am at home. Boaz correctly diagnosed that and told me to quit it because I "can't ride two horses at the same time". I have to try to keep doing my current role successfully until I can make the switch. It's very hard though, because home is truly where my heart is, and I'm SO CLOSE now. I've never been good at waiting, especially when it is something as big as this. I feel like I want to scream or puke most of the time from being so anxious.
But on with life for now. Bubbles is having a birthday this week. We have planned her very first birthday party. I'm so happy to be able to do this for her. I gave her some invitations to hand out at school, but in retrospect I think I should have mailed them. She gave out a couple to some kids four years older than her! I told her that she needs to give them to kids her own age, and that the older kids most likely won't come to her party. I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but she had a few invitations left and I wanted her to give them to age appropriate kids, who would be excited about her party.
Oh well, if nobody comes, then we'll have a fun time with just our family. More cake for us! I had fun buying birthday presents for her. She's getting a Baby Doctor Barbie, a Barbie play house, and a new purse. The child absolutely loves purses! She has a very ugly one that she brought with her from her foster mom's house, so I'm hoping she'll like the new one better. Babygirl is actually embarrassed when Bubbles' carries the current one around. LOL
Babygirl is leaving Thursday night to go to Tennessee with her choir group. They are going to see Elvis' place, and record a song at a real recording studio. That night they will be going to a club that will play the song they recorded while they are there. I wish I was going too!
Thursday, March 02, 2006
The Honeymoon is Over
I was told that the kids would "honeymoon" for a few months. We've had Blondie and Bubbles for nearly four months now. Bubbles had quite a bit of trouble about six weeks ago, and it only lasted for a couple of weeks. She is now doing well in school again, and is behaving herself well at home. We are still working on her behavior at church. In addition, she has almost completely quit wetting the bed, with no medication and no pressure from me.
Blondie is now starting to act out more. On Saturday, and then again this morning, she threw a tantrum. It started with her leaving her jeans on the floor on Bubbles' side of the closet. She claimed that she had hung them up on Bubbles' side and then they fell off the hanger. I told her that wasn't true because they wouldn't have fallen where they were, and that she isn't supposed to hang her jeans on Bubbles' side anyway. Blondie proceeded to argue and lie to me, and then she yelled at me. I stayed calm and told her she would have to write sentences for each bad behavior she exhibited. She ended up screaming and I told her she would have to go into a far part of the house and she was free to come back when she could calm down.
She ended up having to make two trips away from us and after the second one I told her to get dressed for school. She came back down, still crying, and I told her that she could spend her last five minutes before school crying or eating her breakfast. She chose to eat.
She left for school happy, skipping and laughing.
And I'm an emotional wreck. She must have nerves of steel from everything she has been through in the past. I don't deal well with screaming and loud crying. I had to turn up the radio so I couldn't hear her, just to be able to function and make lunches for my kids. During all that time, I was worried that she wouldn't calm down in time for school. Would I have to stay home with her until the storm was over? Would I be late for work? Could she possibly be trying to hurt herself while I'm not looking? How often should I go check?
I'm glad she was able to leave happy and I really hope that the incident this morning doesn't cause her to have a bad day at school today. I know it will be hard for me.
I explained to her before she left how she had made the situation worse. She would only have had to write 25 sentences stating "I will hang up my jeans at bedtime."
Instead she also now has:
I will not argue with my mommy.
I will not lie to my mommy.
I will not yell at my mommy.
I will not cry loudly when I get in trouble.
I wonder how long it will take for her to start connecting her actions with her consequences.
Blondie is now starting to act out more. On Saturday, and then again this morning, she threw a tantrum. It started with her leaving her jeans on the floor on Bubbles' side of the closet. She claimed that she had hung them up on Bubbles' side and then they fell off the hanger. I told her that wasn't true because they wouldn't have fallen where they were, and that she isn't supposed to hang her jeans on Bubbles' side anyway. Blondie proceeded to argue and lie to me, and then she yelled at me. I stayed calm and told her she would have to write sentences for each bad behavior she exhibited. She ended up screaming and I told her she would have to go into a far part of the house and she was free to come back when she could calm down.
She ended up having to make two trips away from us and after the second one I told her to get dressed for school. She came back down, still crying, and I told her that she could spend her last five minutes before school crying or eating her breakfast. She chose to eat.
She left for school happy, skipping and laughing.
And I'm an emotional wreck. She must have nerves of steel from everything she has been through in the past. I don't deal well with screaming and loud crying. I had to turn up the radio so I couldn't hear her, just to be able to function and make lunches for my kids. During all that time, I was worried that she wouldn't calm down in time for school. Would I have to stay home with her until the storm was over? Would I be late for work? Could she possibly be trying to hurt herself while I'm not looking? How often should I go check?
I'm glad she was able to leave happy and I really hope that the incident this morning doesn't cause her to have a bad day at school today. I know it will be hard for me.
I explained to her before she left how she had made the situation worse. She would only have had to write 25 sentences stating "I will hang up my jeans at bedtime."
Instead she also now has:
I will not argue with my mommy.
I will not lie to my mommy.
I will not yell at my mommy.
I will not cry loudly when I get in trouble.
I wonder how long it will take for her to start connecting her actions with her consequences.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Time Marches On
When we made the decision that I can't/shouldn't quit working in May, it was a hard decision for me. It was made doubly hard by the fact that two years ago, I was desperate to quit. I wanted it and planned for it and prayed for it, and it just didn't happen. God didn't magically zap away all our debt or provide some mysterious source of income that would replace mine. I sunk into a mild depression at the end of 2004.
But beginning in 2005, I turned over a new leaf. It was obviously not God's plan for me to quit at that time. We began to pour ourselves more into our real estate business, and then we pursued the adoption. We stayed very busy during 2005, and I accepted that I would need to keep working for the rest of my life, or at least the next several years. So fast forward to two weeks ago, when Boaz began complaining in earnest about how busy we are and how much he is not enjoying life. He talked about how he just wants to simplify by selling everything and moving far away. I told him that the obvious answer is for me to quit my job and take care of the family so that things aren't so crazy at home trying to get everything done on the evenings and weekends. He was unsure, then he was sure, then he was unsure. I told him that if we weren't going to do this, we needed to stop talking about it because my nerves can't handle it. So we decided for sure that I would quit mid-May. But it was obvious over the course of a week, judging by his ill-temper and snappiness that he was unsettled. Finally last Monday night we hashed the whole thing out. I told him that he wasn't ready for me to quit. He told me that he doesn't want to do it until we are completely out of debt (not counting our mortgage) and have 3-6 months of expenses stashed away in the bank. He felt like if I just worked a few more months we could reach that goal. Ha! I'm the one that does the finances in our home, and I tried to explain why that wasn't true. We spent hours discussing/arguing/making up and replanning. We didn't get much sleep at all Monday night.
So here I am. I don't know when, if ever, I'll be able to quit. I know it just can't happen if my husband doesn't have peace about it. The pain of it comes from having it dangled in front of me as a real option and then snatched away again. I'd rather it never even be a consideration than go through that.
So I told him there has to be a compromise. I have to have free time on the weekends. Somehow we'll have to have easier meals, hire a maid, do whatever it takes so I can be free to play with my kids and work on projects and just enjoy my life. I don't want to reach 80 years old and look back and see drudgery and nothing else. We live on nine acres and I hardly ever even get to enjoy it. I keep thinking what am I doing all this for?
I'm going shopping this weekend and taking Babygirl, Blondie and my mother. I'm going to play games with Bucky tonight. And Boaz wants to help me with the bills. I think that's a good thing.
But beginning in 2005, I turned over a new leaf. It was obviously not God's plan for me to quit at that time. We began to pour ourselves more into our real estate business, and then we pursued the adoption. We stayed very busy during 2005, and I accepted that I would need to keep working for the rest of my life, or at least the next several years. So fast forward to two weeks ago, when Boaz began complaining in earnest about how busy we are and how much he is not enjoying life. He talked about how he just wants to simplify by selling everything and moving far away. I told him that the obvious answer is for me to quit my job and take care of the family so that things aren't so crazy at home trying to get everything done on the evenings and weekends. He was unsure, then he was sure, then he was unsure. I told him that if we weren't going to do this, we needed to stop talking about it because my nerves can't handle it. So we decided for sure that I would quit mid-May. But it was obvious over the course of a week, judging by his ill-temper and snappiness that he was unsettled. Finally last Monday night we hashed the whole thing out. I told him that he wasn't ready for me to quit. He told me that he doesn't want to do it until we are completely out of debt (not counting our mortgage) and have 3-6 months of expenses stashed away in the bank. He felt like if I just worked a few more months we could reach that goal. Ha! I'm the one that does the finances in our home, and I tried to explain why that wasn't true. We spent hours discussing/arguing/making up and replanning. We didn't get much sleep at all Monday night.
So here I am. I don't know when, if ever, I'll be able to quit. I know it just can't happen if my husband doesn't have peace about it. The pain of it comes from having it dangled in front of me as a real option and then snatched away again. I'd rather it never even be a consideration than go through that.
So I told him there has to be a compromise. I have to have free time on the weekends. Somehow we'll have to have easier meals, hire a maid, do whatever it takes so I can be free to play with my kids and work on projects and just enjoy my life. I don't want to reach 80 years old and look back and see drudgery and nothing else. We live on nine acres and I hardly ever even get to enjoy it. I keep thinking what am I doing all this for?
I'm going shopping this weekend and taking Babygirl, Blondie and my mother. I'm going to play games with Bucky tonight. And Boaz wants to help me with the bills. I think that's a good thing.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Patience is a Virtue...
...that I need to keep working on.
We have decided to put off the "Stay At Home" thing until the end of the year at least. We need to be more financially stable before we take the plunge. A couple of our rent houses may go empty soon and we'll need cash to get them rentable before we get them back on the market.
Anyway, pray for me because it's always hard when the light at the end of the tunnel goes out.
We have decided to put off the "Stay At Home" thing until the end of the year at least. We need to be more financially stable before we take the plunge. A couple of our rent houses may go empty soon and we'll need cash to get them rentable before we get them back on the market.
Anyway, pray for me because it's always hard when the light at the end of the tunnel goes out.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Hog Hunting
Boaz is leaving tonight to go hunting for wild boars at his friend's 200 acre patch of ground. Their whole bible study group is going, which means all five of them. He will be gone for the same length of time I was gone on the retreat. I'm so happy for him to be able to get away and relax. He really needs it.
I'm going to take my four kids to a movie Friday night. It's called Nanny McPhee. That is, unless Boaz talks me out of it. He thinks that since we are trying to save money so I can stay home, that I should just rent a movie and stay home and make popcorn. Now if I hadn't already TOLD the kids we were going out, I would be more willing to do that. But I really don't want to go back on my word (and I really want to go out to the movies....).
Anyway, I have no fear of keeping the kids by myself while he's gone. I've done it several times now on Saturdays when Boaz has to work and it hasn't been a problem. We've been running errands and doing chores and having fun.
I'm scared and excited about quitting my job. Money will be a lot tighter, but time will be much more abundant. I feel like we are making the right choice.
It's funny, everything I've wanted to do in life, my family (okay, my parents) have been right there letting me know what a mistake I was making. It just gets old. Why can't they ever say, "That's great! Let me know how I can help!" But no. When I decided to go back to college to get a degree, I was told that I had a good job that I shouldn't quit. When I wanted to have another baby, I was told that my plate was full and I shouldn't do it. When I decided I wanted to adopt, I was told that I had enough to do already and it would just be too much on me. Now I want to stay home with my kids and actually enjoy my life, while making life easier on my husband and kids, and I am told that I shouldn't do it because I "just don't know how hard it is to be without money." Well I was raised by the same people saying that and we didn't have money then either. But I DID have a stay-at-home mom who had time to play games with me and we took vacations every year and we always had enough to eat. It's just frustrating to NEVER get any support. I know what is right for my family. And if I quit and we find out it's too hard, guess what, I can go back to work. Gee whiz. I really hate that when I'm making big changes I have to dread telling my parents.
Right now I'm hoping I can quit mid-May. That will give me two weeks at home before the kids get out. I have a bunch of things I've been putting off and it would be great to complete those sans kids.
Things I'm looking forward to (if this dream really comes true):
1) Walks in the fresh air among the wildflowers
2) The sunlight on my face
3) Gardening
4) Teaching my girls to cook
5) Playing outside with my kids
6) Teaching my daughter to drive
7) Playing games with my son
8) Homeschooling Blondie and Bubbles (I've always wanted to homeschool)
9) Having dinner ready for my husband when he gets home
10) A clean house
11) Time to clear my mind
12) Exercise
13) Lunch with friends
14) Volunteering at church
15) Talking on the phone
16) Reading
And I could go on and on...
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Stay at Home Mom?
Boaz and I have a new goal. We are trying to pay off some debts so that I can become a stay-at-home mom. Life is too short to not enjoy it. We get up, go to work, come home to rush through dinner and homework and then head for bed. This happens over and over, Monday through Friday, leaving the weekends for trying to catch up on the things that didn't get done during the week and of course, church. We don't get to spend much if any quality time with anyone.
We're hoping to have the debts paid down enough that I can quit at the end of May, right at the start of summer vacation. We almost decided to do it now, but it will go a lot smoother in the long run if we wait a little while. It felt like we were rushing into the decision without thinking it through, so we feel a lot better about it now.
I'm also considering homeschooling Blondie and Bubbles next year. I think that a year with me tutoring them one-on-two would do wonders for their scholastic abilities. I also think it would give me time to work on their behaviors so that when they do return to school they will be more obedient with their teachers. I think that it is important for them socially and spiritually to be involved in a school setting, but I think they need some catch up time. I think they need some good, intensive MOMMY time that they've never had. A stretch goal would be to actually get Blondie caught up with where she should be in school, since she had to repeat first grade. I don't know if that is realistic, we'll just have to see. Maybe after a year away and taking her growth hormones, she might even be closer to her rightful size when she returns.
This morning we had the Valentine's assembly line going. Bubbles didn't bring home a list until last night, and due to her behavior she had to go to bed early. So this morning we hurriedly addressed valentines. I wonder if she's ever gotten to participate before?
Happy Valentine's day everyone!
We're hoping to have the debts paid down enough that I can quit at the end of May, right at the start of summer vacation. We almost decided to do it now, but it will go a lot smoother in the long run if we wait a little while. It felt like we were rushing into the decision without thinking it through, so we feel a lot better about it now.
I'm also considering homeschooling Blondie and Bubbles next year. I think that a year with me tutoring them one-on-two would do wonders for their scholastic abilities. I also think it would give me time to work on their behaviors so that when they do return to school they will be more obedient with their teachers. I think that it is important for them socially and spiritually to be involved in a school setting, but I think they need some catch up time. I think they need some good, intensive MOMMY time that they've never had. A stretch goal would be to actually get Blondie caught up with where she should be in school, since she had to repeat first grade. I don't know if that is realistic, we'll just have to see. Maybe after a year away and taking her growth hormones, she might even be closer to her rightful size when she returns.
This morning we had the Valentine's assembly line going. Bubbles didn't bring home a list until last night, and due to her behavior she had to go to bed early. So this morning we hurriedly addressed valentines. I wonder if she's ever gotten to participate before?
Happy Valentine's day everyone!
Friday, February 10, 2006
Unbelievable
Attention Deficit Drugs get Black Box Label
The article above says that 9.3% of 12 year old boys are on ADHD drugs. This country needs to take a serious look at whether we are drugging them because they have a medical problem, or because they are BOYS. I find it impossible to believe that God created 9.3% of our 12 year old boys with a serious medical problem requiring intensive medication.
The article above says that 9.3% of 12 year old boys are on ADHD drugs. This country needs to take a serious look at whether we are drugging them because they have a medical problem, or because they are BOYS. I find it impossible to believe that God created 9.3% of our 12 year old boys with a serious medical problem requiring intensive medication.
Results!
The doctor called with the results from Blondie's tests. He said that she is growth hormone deficient. He said that there are two types of growth hormones, and that one of them is sensitive to environmental factors like nutrition, and the other one is not. He said that she has very low levels of both. I don't know what that means or what is causing it, but at least we have a reason for why she is so small.
He said that her bone age test showed her to be 6 years of age instead of 8.5. I asked him if this was good or bad and what it meant. He said that it is good, because it means she has more growing time. That means she can make up for some of the time she has lost.
He said that her thyroid is normal and that the tests didn't show any signs of a tumor in her head. He wants to run a couple more tests. One will be an MRI and the other will be a test to see if she will respond to growth hormone therapy. If she does, then we will be doing shots every day at home to help her grow. The chromosome tests have not come back yet.
It is a relief to have an answer. I've been mildly appalled at the reactions of some people that I told I was taking her to the doctor. They insinuated that maybe I didn't like her because she was short, or that I wouldn't accept her just the way she was. It really made me angry. I'm trying to help a child who obviously has a growth problem. No one in her past has seen fit to have her checked, but since I want to address the problem and help her, then obviously I'm not willing to accept her the way she is.
Whatever. If she doesn't grow, I will help her to learn to navigate her life as a small adult. My desire to help her had nothing to do with me not wanting her to be short if that was the way God meant her to be. But if she has a head injury that caused her to not grow, why shouldn't I try to seek help?! Sorry for the rant, but I found those insinuations to be quite insulting.
He said that her bone age test showed her to be 6 years of age instead of 8.5. I asked him if this was good or bad and what it meant. He said that it is good, because it means she has more growing time. That means she can make up for some of the time she has lost.
He said that her thyroid is normal and that the tests didn't show any signs of a tumor in her head. He wants to run a couple more tests. One will be an MRI and the other will be a test to see if she will respond to growth hormone therapy. If she does, then we will be doing shots every day at home to help her grow. The chromosome tests have not come back yet.
It is a relief to have an answer. I've been mildly appalled at the reactions of some people that I told I was taking her to the doctor. They insinuated that maybe I didn't like her because she was short, or that I wouldn't accept her just the way she was. It really made me angry. I'm trying to help a child who obviously has a growth problem. No one in her past has seen fit to have her checked, but since I want to address the problem and help her, then obviously I'm not willing to accept her the way she is.
Whatever. If she doesn't grow, I will help her to learn to navigate her life as a small adult. My desire to help her had nothing to do with me not wanting her to be short if that was the way God meant her to be. But if she has a head injury that caused her to not grow, why shouldn't I try to seek help?! Sorry for the rant, but I found those insinuations to be quite insulting.
Doing Better
Babygirl is pretty much well now except for her sore throat. She probably could have gone back to school today, but after missing all week I told her it would be okay to take one more day to rest and recuperate. I called the school this morning and hopefully I'll be able to get some of her work from her teachers so she can start getting caught up this weekend.
Blondie caused a problem on the bus this week, but we didn't find out until Bubbles told us last night. Blondie is supposed to sit at the front of the bus with the younger kids, but her friend Curlie told her it would be okay to sit in the back. Mr. Busdriver told Blondie to come up to the front of the bus four or five times, and she continued to ignore him. Finally he stopped the bus at the side of the road and stood up to come get her, and she decided it was time to do as he asked. For that she was made to go to bed early last night and she will again tonight.
Unfortunately, I fear that the only reason Bubbles told us is because Blondie told on her yesterday too. When Bubbles told us the story, I asked Blondie if what Bubbles was saying was true. She said it wasn't true. So I asked her if she was saying that Bubbles was making up a terrible lie about her, and she told me that yes, Bubbles was making up a terrible lie. So then I asked her if she had sat in the back of the bus, and she said that yes, she did, but she didn't remember anything about Mr. Busdriver telling her to come forward or stopping the bus. I told Blondie that this one would be easy to solve, because I would just call Mr. Busdriver myself today and ask him about it. I also told her that it would be much better to tell the truth now than to wait and let us hear it from Mr. Busdriver. At that point she confessed everything, that the whole story was true. I told her that I was proud of her for telling the truth and that we would respect her more for telling the truth than for lying.
I'm really working hard on having not much if any reaction to their poor behavior, and just delivering the consequences that we feel fit their behavior as best we can. I don't really have any appropriate consequences for bus riding, so going to bed early was the best I could do. She really hates that the most.
Bubbles ran off from her afterschool teacher again yesterday, and pulled Blondie along with her. Blondie was protesting and didn't want to go, but Bubbles was insistent and pulling on her arm. The afterschool teacher wrote a letter and sent it home with Blondie, who didn't give it to me until after Bubbles told on her for her misbehavior on the bus. We had already heard the story as soon as they got home but we had not seen the note. The teacher just told me that she was trying to use time out on the girls at school like we had discussed, but she wanted to let me know what happened.
I told Bubbles that it is very important that she stay with the adults that I leave in charge of her. They can't take care of her if they don't know where she is because she runs off. I told her that I want to know that she is safe and taken care of, and that is impossible if she keeps running off. I kind of saw the lightbulb go off when I explained it to her, but we'll have to see over time if it makes a difference. Mostly she just takes off to get a drink or go to the restroom, but she is supposed to ask permission first so the teacher willl know where she is. Both girls are guilty of this behavior.
Really the biggest problem we have with them right now is that they don't obey the authority figures outside our home. We don't have a problem with them at home, but so far they have disobeyed their teachers at school, Mr. Busdriver, the teachers at church and my mom and dad. My mom and dad didn't provide any consequences if they didn't behave themselves. I had discussed the use of time out with my mom, but they only threatened them but didn't enforce it. So the girls did whatever they wanted, which included yelling and running all over the house and refusing to come when called, etc. Mom and Dad are reluctant to watch them again, but I only partly blame the girls. No one changes without consequences, be they good or bad ones.
So much for getting any time alone with Boaz. I was really hoping that Mom and Dad would be able to provide some babysitting so we could get some date nights. Now I don't know. At least for a while we'll probably have to continue to rough it.
The girls really aren't that bad, it's just that they test all their limits. They respond well to time out but we can't be there with them at school/church/on the bus/at Grandma's house to make sure they mind. They've been doing better in their actual classroom because they know we check their folders everyday. I really think it will just take time and training to help them be obedient wherever they go. They've developed these bad habits over a long period of time and it's going to take a long time to make them go away.
All in all I feel very blessed with them. We were warned of so many scary things that can be present in foster kids, and I feel that we got the cream of the crop with these girls. They don't shout at us, cuss, throw things or tantrum. They are just doing everything that normal children do, except all at once.
Blondie caused a problem on the bus this week, but we didn't find out until Bubbles told us last night. Blondie is supposed to sit at the front of the bus with the younger kids, but her friend Curlie told her it would be okay to sit in the back. Mr. Busdriver told Blondie to come up to the front of the bus four or five times, and she continued to ignore him. Finally he stopped the bus at the side of the road and stood up to come get her, and she decided it was time to do as he asked. For that she was made to go to bed early last night and she will again tonight.
Unfortunately, I fear that the only reason Bubbles told us is because Blondie told on her yesterday too. When Bubbles told us the story, I asked Blondie if what Bubbles was saying was true. She said it wasn't true. So I asked her if she was saying that Bubbles was making up a terrible lie about her, and she told me that yes, Bubbles was making up a terrible lie. So then I asked her if she had sat in the back of the bus, and she said that yes, she did, but she didn't remember anything about Mr. Busdriver telling her to come forward or stopping the bus. I told Blondie that this one would be easy to solve, because I would just call Mr. Busdriver myself today and ask him about it. I also told her that it would be much better to tell the truth now than to wait and let us hear it from Mr. Busdriver. At that point she confessed everything, that the whole story was true. I told her that I was proud of her for telling the truth and that we would respect her more for telling the truth than for lying.
I'm really working hard on having not much if any reaction to their poor behavior, and just delivering the consequences that we feel fit their behavior as best we can. I don't really have any appropriate consequences for bus riding, so going to bed early was the best I could do. She really hates that the most.
Bubbles ran off from her afterschool teacher again yesterday, and pulled Blondie along with her. Blondie was protesting and didn't want to go, but Bubbles was insistent and pulling on her arm. The afterschool teacher wrote a letter and sent it home with Blondie, who didn't give it to me until after Bubbles told on her for her misbehavior on the bus. We had already heard the story as soon as they got home but we had not seen the note. The teacher just told me that she was trying to use time out on the girls at school like we had discussed, but she wanted to let me know what happened.
I told Bubbles that it is very important that she stay with the adults that I leave in charge of her. They can't take care of her if they don't know where she is because she runs off. I told her that I want to know that she is safe and taken care of, and that is impossible if she keeps running off. I kind of saw the lightbulb go off when I explained it to her, but we'll have to see over time if it makes a difference. Mostly she just takes off to get a drink or go to the restroom, but she is supposed to ask permission first so the teacher willl know where she is. Both girls are guilty of this behavior.
Really the biggest problem we have with them right now is that they don't obey the authority figures outside our home. We don't have a problem with them at home, but so far they have disobeyed their teachers at school, Mr. Busdriver, the teachers at church and my mom and dad. My mom and dad didn't provide any consequences if they didn't behave themselves. I had discussed the use of time out with my mom, but they only threatened them but didn't enforce it. So the girls did whatever they wanted, which included yelling and running all over the house and refusing to come when called, etc. Mom and Dad are reluctant to watch them again, but I only partly blame the girls. No one changes without consequences, be they good or bad ones.
So much for getting any time alone with Boaz. I was really hoping that Mom and Dad would be able to provide some babysitting so we could get some date nights. Now I don't know. At least for a while we'll probably have to continue to rough it.
The girls really aren't that bad, it's just that they test all their limits. They respond well to time out but we can't be there with them at school/church/on the bus/at Grandma's house to make sure they mind. They've been doing better in their actual classroom because they know we check their folders everyday. I really think it will just take time and training to help them be obedient wherever they go. They've developed these bad habits over a long period of time and it's going to take a long time to make them go away.
All in all I feel very blessed with them. We were warned of so many scary things that can be present in foster kids, and I feel that we got the cream of the crop with these girls. They don't shout at us, cuss, throw things or tantrum. They are just doing everything that normal children do, except all at once.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Everybody is Sick
Babygirl has the flu.
Bubbles has an ear infection.
Blondie has a stomach ache.
Bucky got his tongue stuck in his braces - TWICE- and now he has a "tongue-ache".
Boaz was running fever yesterday.
Needless to say, I missed three days of work this week.
I'm tired.
Things are going a bit better with the girls. Bubbles has ended her "bad" streak and has been getting green every day. I did get a call from the teacher that watches them before and after school, saying that they don't mind her or listen to her, but once they found out we knew they straightened up. I've been working harder on loving them than disciplining them, and we are all in a much better frame of mind.
Bubbles has an ear infection.
Blondie has a stomach ache.
Bucky got his tongue stuck in his braces - TWICE- and now he has a "tongue-ache".
Boaz was running fever yesterday.
Needless to say, I missed three days of work this week.
I'm tired.
Things are going a bit better with the girls. Bubbles has ended her "bad" streak and has been getting green every day. I did get a call from the teacher that watches them before and after school, saying that they don't mind her or listen to her, but once they found out we knew they straightened up. I've been working harder on loving them than disciplining them, and we are all in a much better frame of mind.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
A Weekend Away
I'm leaving in a couple of hours to spend the weekend away with the girls. No, the big girls. My friends. It's a ladies' retreat with my church, and we'll have some small group teaching times, and staying up late being silly, and some shopping tomorrow. We get back Saturday afternoon.
I've been stressed about leaving and worrying about how my family will do while I'm gone. But Boaz has been very supportive, telling me to go and have fun and that they will be fine. He told me to go let God bless me and let God bless others through me. I think that's a great idea.
See you Monday!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Better Day
Okay, so maybe it was a coincidence or something, or maybe it was the results of consequences, or maybe it was an answer to my prayers. Bubbles had a good day yesterday. She was good on the morning bus, good at school and good on the afternoon bus. We had a snugglefest celebration when she got home, in which I told her "I knew you could do it" and "I'm so proud of you" several times. We giggled and laughed and hugged and she was obviously very proud of herself.
It was only this morning when I remembered the pleading prayer I sent up to God yesterday, begging that she would feel His love and mine through the day, and that she would be reminded all day in her mind to try to behave herself.
So I'm going with the prayer, and I'm going to try to remember to keep it up.
It was only this morning when I remembered the pleading prayer I sent up to God yesterday, begging that she would feel His love and mine through the day, and that she would be reminded all day in her mind to try to behave herself.
So I'm going with the prayer, and I'm going to try to remember to keep it up.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Discouraged
Bubbles had a bad day yesterday. It started off good. We had some snuggle time in the car while we were waiting for the bus, and she left in a good mood.
When she got home, Blondie had a report to make about Bubbles' behavior. She said that Bubbles didn't mind the driver on the morning bus, and he had to tell her over and over and over to scoot over by the window to make room for others. Bubbles would only scoot a couple of inches each time, but she finally got across the seat.
At school she was talking too much and got her color changed to yellow.
On the bus on the way home, she went to the back of the bus when she knows she isn't allowed to. The other kids started yelling for her to get back to the front of the bus. She got mad at them yelling at her so she was telling them to shut up and sticking out her tongue.
So when she got home she got a time out and then my floor got another cleaning.
I guess the most frustrating part is having to wait to see results. How many times will we have bad days, followed by consequences, and no signs of improvement? I guess I'm being impatient. But what bothers me is that if I don't see signs of improvement, then I don't know for sure if I'm on the right track.
I was very calm and gave her a big hug and told her that I loved her. She immediately asked for another chance. I told her that she gets another chance tomorrow, but that she has to have her consequences today.
Blondie got a comment on her folder too, so my floors are looking pretty great right now. But Blondie has been showing lots of improvement. It's a relief to see. Bubbles is actually getting worse, but hopefully that's just signs that the honeymoon is over, and not because we are doing something wrong.
Today when they got on the bus we were all blowing kisses to each other.
When she got home, Blondie had a report to make about Bubbles' behavior. She said that Bubbles didn't mind the driver on the morning bus, and he had to tell her over and over and over to scoot over by the window to make room for others. Bubbles would only scoot a couple of inches each time, but she finally got across the seat.
At school she was talking too much and got her color changed to yellow.
On the bus on the way home, she went to the back of the bus when she knows she isn't allowed to. The other kids started yelling for her to get back to the front of the bus. She got mad at them yelling at her so she was telling them to shut up and sticking out her tongue.
So when she got home she got a time out and then my floor got another cleaning.
I guess the most frustrating part is having to wait to see results. How many times will we have bad days, followed by consequences, and no signs of improvement? I guess I'm being impatient. But what bothers me is that if I don't see signs of improvement, then I don't know for sure if I'm on the right track.
I was very calm and gave her a big hug and told her that I loved her. She immediately asked for another chance. I told her that she gets another chance tomorrow, but that she has to have her consequences today.
Blondie got a comment on her folder too, so my floors are looking pretty great right now. But Blondie has been showing lots of improvement. It's a relief to see. Bubbles is actually getting worse, but hopefully that's just signs that the honeymoon is over, and not because we are doing something wrong.
Today when they got on the bus we were all blowing kisses to each other.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Happiness is....
1) Getting kisses on top of the head from your little girls
2) Mashed potatoes, steamed cabbage, fried squash and a hot roll….because you finally remembered your PIN on the third try
The first beats the second by a mile....but I'm really hungry.
2) Mashed potatoes, steamed cabbage, fried squash and a hot roll….because you finally remembered your PIN on the third try
The first beats the second by a mile....but I'm really hungry.
Clean Floors and Dollar Stores
I'm trying to make yelling and lecturing a thing of the past. Here are the reasons:
1) It's wrong
2) It doesn't work
3) It upsets the yeller, the yellee, and the yell hearers.
So when Bubbles has misbehaved for the past couple of days, she gets to wash the kitchen floor with a wet rag. She definitely doesn't like it. It took two washings yesterday morning before she got the hint and decided to behave herself. And I was calm! Knowing ahead of time what the punishment will be lessens the frustration immensely.
Yesterday the kids were able to see the fruits of their labor more vividly. We cashed in the quarters for paper dollars and made a trip to the dollar store. Bubbles only had two quarters, plus one that she had missed in her sock drawer when she loaded up her purse and disobeyed me a couple of weeks ago. For now, her purse and its contents remain with me.
Bucky and Blondie counted their money and begged me to take them to the store. They even offered to pay for the gas money, which I calculated, and they happily pooled their money to cover it. Bubbles alternately searched her drawer and pouted on the couch while waiting for me to get ready.
I know that Bubbles left this morning determined to be good and keep her quarters. She also knows that she will get her purse back if she comes home with a good report from school and from the bus. So far she missed the opportunity for three days last week. She always says "I'm going to be good today Mommy!" but somehow doesn't quite make it. And yes, I do point out to her that SHE is good, but her BEHAVIOR is bad.
Boaz had to work yesterday (rare and unpleasant) so we finally got the Christmas tree put away and all the decorations boxed up and back out into the garage. I made a pot of spaghetti sauce and a pot of pinto beans to eat this week. I also made two loaves of bread and washed a mountain of laundry. The kids helped along the way, and they worked well together and we got a lot done. Bubbles was the only one who had to be disciplined, and it got me a clean kitchen floor, so I'm not complaining.
It was really good to see Bucky playing with Blondie and Bubbles so well. It's amazing what getting grounded from his electronics does for him. He's gotten more interested in his guitar, and gave us a little concert Friday night. He even wanted to take it to my parents house Saturday night to play for them.
And, by the way, things are going much better with my mom. Both girls rode in the car with my parents on the way to the restaurant. I can tell that my mom is warming up to them, and I think she has taken a shine to Blondie. Blondie and Bubbles are so starved for attention, that I think a good set of grandparents would be just what the doctor ordered. We'll see how it goes. They have several years to make up for. A couple of months with us has not lessened their need to be in the spotlight much at all.
1) It's wrong
2) It doesn't work
3) It upsets the yeller, the yellee, and the yell hearers.
So when Bubbles has misbehaved for the past couple of days, she gets to wash the kitchen floor with a wet rag. She definitely doesn't like it. It took two washings yesterday morning before she got the hint and decided to behave herself. And I was calm! Knowing ahead of time what the punishment will be lessens the frustration immensely.
Yesterday the kids were able to see the fruits of their labor more vividly. We cashed in the quarters for paper dollars and made a trip to the dollar store. Bubbles only had two quarters, plus one that she had missed in her sock drawer when she loaded up her purse and disobeyed me a couple of weeks ago. For now, her purse and its contents remain with me.
Bucky and Blondie counted their money and begged me to take them to the store. They even offered to pay for the gas money, which I calculated, and they happily pooled their money to cover it. Bubbles alternately searched her drawer and pouted on the couch while waiting for me to get ready.
I know that Bubbles left this morning determined to be good and keep her quarters. She also knows that she will get her purse back if she comes home with a good report from school and from the bus. So far she missed the opportunity for three days last week. She always says "I'm going to be good today Mommy!" but somehow doesn't quite make it. And yes, I do point out to her that SHE is good, but her BEHAVIOR is bad.
Boaz had to work yesterday (rare and unpleasant) so we finally got the Christmas tree put away and all the decorations boxed up and back out into the garage. I made a pot of spaghetti sauce and a pot of pinto beans to eat this week. I also made two loaves of bread and washed a mountain of laundry. The kids helped along the way, and they worked well together and we got a lot done. Bubbles was the only one who had to be disciplined, and it got me a clean kitchen floor, so I'm not complaining.
It was really good to see Bucky playing with Blondie and Bubbles so well. It's amazing what getting grounded from his electronics does for him. He's gotten more interested in his guitar, and gave us a little concert Friday night. He even wanted to take it to my parents house Saturday night to play for them.
And, by the way, things are going much better with my mom. Both girls rode in the car with my parents on the way to the restaurant. I can tell that my mom is warming up to them, and I think she has taken a shine to Blondie. Blondie and Bubbles are so starved for attention, that I think a good set of grandparents would be just what the doctor ordered. We'll see how it goes. They have several years to make up for. A couple of months with us has not lessened their need to be in the spotlight much at all.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Creative Slogans
I received this in an email and it's so cute:
Sign over a Gynecologist's Office:
"Dr. Jones, at your cervix."
In a Podiatrist's office:
"Time wounds all heels."
On a Septic Tank Truck in Oregon:
Yesterday's Meals on Wheels
At a Proctologist's door:
"To expedite your visit please back in."
On a Plumber's truck:
"We repair what your husband fixed."
On another Plumber's truck:
"Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.."
At a Tire Shop:
"Invite us to your next blowout."
At a Towing company:
"We don't charge an arm and a leg; we want tows."
On an Electrician's truck:
"Let us remove your shorts."
In a Nonsmoking Area:
"If we see smoke, we'll assume you're on fire and take appropriate action."
On a Maternity Room door:
"Push Push. Push."
At an Optometrist's Office:
"If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."
On a Taxidermist's window:
"We really know our stuff."
On a Fence:
"Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive!"
At a Car Dealership:
"The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment."
Outside a Muffler Shop:
"No appointment necessary. We hear you coming."
In a Veterinarian's waiting room:
"Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"
At the Electric Company:
"We would be delighted if you send in your payment. However, if you don't, you will be."
In a Restaurant window:
"Don't stand there and be hungry, Come on in and get fed up."
In the front yard of a Funeral Home:
"Drive carefully. We'll wait."
And don't forget the sign at a Chicago Radiator Shop:
"Best place in town to take a leak!"
Sign over a Gynecologist's Office:
"Dr. Jones, at your cervix."
In a Podiatrist's office:
"Time wounds all heels."
On a Septic Tank Truck in Oregon:
Yesterday's Meals on Wheels
At a Proctologist's door:
"To expedite your visit please back in."
On a Plumber's truck:
"We repair what your husband fixed."
On another Plumber's truck:
"Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.."
At a Tire Shop:
"Invite us to your next blowout."
At a Towing company:
"We don't charge an arm and a leg; we want tows."
On an Electrician's truck:
"Let us remove your shorts."
In a Nonsmoking Area:
"If we see smoke, we'll assume you're on fire and take appropriate action."
On a Maternity Room door:
"Push Push. Push."
At an Optometrist's Office:
"If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."
On a Taxidermist's window:
"We really know our stuff."
On a Fence:
"Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive!"
At a Car Dealership:
"The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment."
Outside a Muffler Shop:
"No appointment necessary. We hear you coming."
In a Veterinarian's waiting room:
"Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"
At the Electric Company:
"We would be delighted if you send in your payment. However, if you don't, you will be."
In a Restaurant window:
"Don't stand there and be hungry, Come on in and get fed up."
In the front yard of a Funeral Home:
"Drive carefully. We'll wait."
And don't forget the sign at a Chicago Radiator Shop:
"Best place in town to take a leak!"
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