manual labor school:day four

If there is one word that defines my family it is stubborn. This can be considered a good trait when used for niceness. It is called tenacity, then. Ah,but when it is used for naughtiness,it is just plain hard headed (or pig headed,or thick skulled,or….)
I am being tenacious. My contrary son is being hard headed. [...]

Read Full Post »

day three of manual labor school

My yard is looking good. All those pesky weeds have been pulled from the front and the back lawn. (of course,without the weeds,my lawn is less…well there is just less). My baseboards are clean, my floors have been mopped daily,cabinets are cleaned out and my blinds and windows are being cleaned as I type.
Attitudes are [...]

Read Full Post »

channeling youngest and this and that

My formerly “good” thirteen year old has decided-for reasons know only to him- to refuse to do any school work. He is lying.He is cheating, (yes,homeschooled children will try and cheat,just because they are homeschooled,doesn’t make them any less children). He is pulling his younger brother’s trick of gorging himself at one meal because he [...]

Read Full Post »

Let me ’splain …..

It hasn’t been the best week. Monday was court and a sideways day for the kids at home. Tuesday the full weight of my youngest son’s emotional problems as well as his legal problems hit me square on. Yesterday I was hit full on with whatever virus is currently circulating and I found out that [...]

Read Full Post »

so much for being strong

I handle the big things OK. I have listened to some pretty horrible things from small children’s lips and kept it together. I did fine in court yesterday. I did well during my visit with youngest yesterday. I didn’t leave when he cussed,or yelled at me. I did raise my voice when he justified stabbing [...]

Read Full Post »

He’s going to residential in the morning

Court for youngest was this morning. He is being sent to the only residential treatment center in our very large state that would take him. I have heard very very bad things and very good things about this facility.I am praying it is the good things that are true. It isn’t as if we have [...]

Read Full Post »

hitting the reset button,court and costumed cousins

I think we have finally found the kid’s reset button. On Friday we went hiking and the kids finally relaxed. My thirteen year old was glued to his dad. There is just something about being outdoors that helps reorganize them-and us. It was a beautiful day. I forgot my camera; which really doesn’t matter [...]

Read Full Post »

three for three… or is it four for four?

This morning I went to iron my only pair of khaki’s. The first thing I see is that the iron was plugged in and on. (I am very grateful for automatic shut-off). I start to iron my pants and notice something brown and sticky being left on my pants. I turn the iron over [...]

Read Full Post »

why having an advanced degree doesn’t prevent you from being an idiot

If you are a professional in the mental health field and want me to trust you, I will give you a little hint.
Tell me you are in over your head. I understand that. Tell me you have never dealt with a child who has been as damaged as my child, but you are researching like [...]

Read Full Post »

rain and another day schooling the fas brain

Yesterday the weather was sunny and almost hot (80 or so for you Yankees-you know who you are dad).
Today it is in the low fifties (feels like forties according to Weather.com) and raining. I am freezing. (quit laughing at me dad!) The kids are not having an academically on day.All three are varying degrees of [...]

Read Full Post »