Left at the Park

Remember when you were little, and you were misbehaving in the car? What was the standard threat? "If you don't behave, I'm going to make you get out and walk!"

Well, yesterday at the park, I decided to attempt the opposite of this punishment. It's called "If you don't get IN the car, I'm going to leave you here!"

My 8 year old son was being rather belligerent yesterday while at the park, and would not accompany me to the car when it was time to leave. I yelled after him, " If you don't get in the car, I'm going to leave you...!!" Didn't seem to phase him at all. He remained on the swing, sitting ever so nonchalantly. The rest of us got in, and I started the car. He did not move. So...I drove away, down the block. He did not move.....until I rounded the corner and was out of sight. By the time I had gone past two houses, and then proceeded to turn around in the driveway to head back to the park, as I turned the corner to gain visual eyesight with the park, here I see my tough as nails little boy, who in the seconds it took me to turn my car around, had sprinted all the way across the park and was already across the street, obviously running after my car.

He was visably upset...and completely winded. When I asked him what he was going to do the next time, he grumbled..."I guess I'll get in the car!".

I remember the time my parents made me get out and walk...and I think he'll remember this too. So are we both scarred for life? No, I don't think so, but this experience went along way in proving that from a kid's perspective, you never know what your parents are going to do!

A Car Full of Kids

My husband purchased tickets to Cirque du Soliel's Sunday matinee performance for my birthday. This meant that we needed to leave our beach house no later than 9:30 Sunday morning in order to make the 1:00 pm curtain call. Sounds easy right? Not if you're me.

Getting pulled over by a sheriff really puts a damper on plans! I was traveling on a deserted road I always use that takes me to I-10 towards home. I was innocently following the police car for several miles, when he suddenly decided to move over to the right lane so I would pass him. I did. He then put on his lights and I was forced to stop in the middle of nowhere. He got out of the car and walked up to my window. Said nothing...just stood there. Finally I said..."Did I do something wrong?"

He said..."No... not really. I saw you weaving across the center line...and that was why I pulled you over."

I said to the deputy..."If I was weaving across the yellow line, it was a direct result of having FIVE kids and a DOG in the car!"

His response... "FIVE KIDS...??? and a DOG???...Have a nice day maam..and be careful."

The PR is LOST....

Leave it to me….how in the world do you lose an $8000 assistive speech device in 48 hours? Princess got off the bus with no backpack, and immediately began to get hysterical. She LOVES her PR device. To top it off? It was a loaner from another agency, who made us take a blood oath that Princess would only use it at school…and that it would NOT go home.

OOOPS!

Freeze Dried (Pre)Teenager

After raising our two oldest sons to the ripe old age of 21 and 24, I've often wished for the ability to be able to just freeze dry my children from the age of about 12 to 20. Wouldn't that be nice, in some ways to just skip over all the moodiness, messiness, and maelstrom that goes along with the lovely teenage years?

I had put that wish on the back shelf for the last year or so, when our second eldest son turned 20, and started actually resembling an adult...until yesterday.

Laynibug turned twelve, 25 days ago. That must be the incubation period for the (pre)teenage disease to take hold, because although I saw symptoms before, she really broke out with a confirmed case yesterday.

"Laynibug, your teacher emailed me and told me that you're unfocused at school, and are failing two classes..."
"No, Mom, I'm not failing anything, I swear."
"Laynibug, didn't you hear me? The teacher E-MAILED me. She gave me your averages."
"Really, MOM, I'm not failing anything. I don't know why she (the teacher) thinks that."

At this point, I gave up. Wasn't worth it. Clueless...(one of the classic symptoms)...

So, I put her at the computer knowing that she had a book report due the next day that she's known about for about 2 weeks. I instructed her to start typing her report while I went to pick up three other children, which I knew would approximate the time it would take for her to complete this task. I had confidence that the yet unconfirmed diagnosis would not cloud her judgment. She'd pull this off...she'd pull through.

WRONG. Where was she when I returned? Down the street, playing with friends. How much typing had she done on the book report? NONE!

If you know me at all, I can leave to your imagination the expletives that came from my mouth...(to myself of course)...

"Laynibug, why didn't you type your report?"
"Well, Mom, IT WOULDN'T LET ME!"

After this exchange I knew it was a confirmed case of (pre)teenageditus. Full blown....all the classic symptoms. Verbal bravado, sluggishness, confusion, rebellion...all the classics were there.

Now I was berating myself for the lost year of production...I could have been much closer to my great freeze dried teenager discovery had I not fallen into the trap of self denial.

With this realization cemented firmly in my mind, I knew I'd better get ready....because for now, knowing that teenageitus is incurable for the long run, the only thing that will help me now....


.......is combat gear.

(In)sanity among the five

This blog is composed of the trials and tribulations of having 7 children...5 transracially adopted at birth through the Child Protective services of our state.

Out of the 7, the youngest adopted 5 still live at home and range in age from 12 to 3. Each of them have special needs in some way, some small, some large.

This blog will make you laugh, cry and maybe stand up and cheer. Hang on...our five will give you a run for your money!!