Here I am, it's been a month.
Here's what's going on in my neck of Utah, the "I'm just not going to let spring ever come" state. I love how John Updike talks about March in his children's book "A Child's Calendar." He says,
"The sun is nervous
As a kite
That can't quite keep
It's own string tight.
Some days are fair,
And some are raw.
The timid earth
Decides to thaw.
Shy budlets peep
From twigs on trees,
And robins join
The chickadees.
Pale crocuses
Poke through the ground
Like noses come
To sniff around.
The mud smells happy
On our shoes,
We will wear mittens,
Which we lose."
This is March. The sun peaks out and hides, then starts the whole thing over again. When the sun's out it's tolerable and even exciting, but when it's not, it's not worth staying outside. My son thinks it's definitely spring, and likes to wear shorts and t-shirts to school when it's 30 degrees outside. Can I just say that I am sick to death of fighting with him about clothes. When I ask him to take a jacket to school, you'd think I'd asked him to hike through the Kalahara without water. Good grief.
Yesterday at school was the 5th grade maturation program for boys and girls. "But we were separated," Nathan told me. I couldn't believe when he got in the car after school and "shared" this information with me. I was stunned when he brought it up at dinner in front of his teenage sisters. "What did they tell you?" they giggled. Their laughing didn't deter him at all.
"About how we're supposed to wear deoderant and take a shower every day. Giggle giggle, blush blush from the sister section. "And how pretty soon we're going to start liking girls." Giggle, giggle.
"We all gagged and pretended to throw up when he said that," he added. Peals of laughter from all of us.
"Next year you'll learn more stuff," I said.
"Great," he said, and rolled his eyes.
My crocuses are poking through. Updike's crocuses are pale but mine are bright yellow and purple. I'm glad we made the effort to plant them last fall. Thankfully they can't go back into the ground after they've sprung, like the sun going behind the clouds. They are the bravest flower of all, to stand up to the fickle days of March.
Hope there's some sun wherever you are today!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Stimulus and Stimulants
President Obama and I have a lot in common these days. He doesn't know me from Adam (or Eve) although I would have practically traded in my fuzzy red socks to see him get elected. I would have jumped ship temporarily (or house and home) to work on his campaign if I had been at a different stage in my life. No, he doesn't know me and never will, but we are both working for a common goal these days.
While President Obama is feverishly trying to stimulate the economy, I am desperately trying to stimulate my brain which has been misfiring all my life. The catch is that it's a lot easier to stimulate a brain IF you have the right tools than to stimulate a sagging, ailing economy. The irony is that it's taken me 42 years of struggle to find out what's wrong with me, and once discovered, it seems almost too easy. For our economy, however, there are multiple layers of reasons for its malfunction, and connecting the wires is a Herculean task.
I wish that creating jobs and improving the lives of Americans were so simple and fixable as my own brain. As all economists are warning, there is no magic pill, unfortunately. But for me, there is, or seems to be, at this moment. I am in the honeymoon phase of OBF optimal brain function (my own term) and each day's moments are lovely and relieving.
A couple of weeks ago I was diagnosed with adult ADD. That's Attention Deficit Disorder, for all of you whose brains are functioning optimally today. No, I do not have the ADHD type, "H" standing for hyper. Most adults don't actually. I have come up with a few of my own words to make it sound better, or sillier than it actually is, like ALWAYS DOING DUMB things or ALWAYS DREADING the DAY or ATTENTION: DRAMA DANCE coming your way or ATTENTION: DISASTER DEAD ahead or other nonsense.
Just one more: ATTENTION: DUH! DUH!!!!!!!!
But this disorder is real, as real as my heart pumping blood. Real.
Multiple times a day since the diagnosis I say to myself, "Oh yeah, that's why that happened and that's why I did that." If anymore light bulbs go on in my brain I will have to put on sunglasses to fight the glare of revelation that has opened up to me.
Since I started taking my stimulant medication I have gone from feeling half dead to feeling alive. The snow is pretty, not a pain in the butt. The autistic kids at school are funny instead of a pain in the butt. My children are busy, interesting and entertaining with lots of good things that I can be part of instead of energy sucking creatures that consume food, make a ton of dirty laundry and keep me taxiing around the city for hours a day. I love them so much!
Geez, will I finally be able to sit through church without wanting to get up and wander? Will I stop running to the store all the time? Will I stop overeating? Will I stop being the world's grouchiest MAMA in the mornings? Will I be able to function past 9 pm? Will I be able to finish a novel? Will I blog more than once a month? Will I start solving problems instead of creating them? Will I keep this same cell phone for more than six months? Will I? Will I? Will I? Perhaps, maybe, and I hope so more than anything.
Darren says I'm "firing from all cylinders" this week, like the Titanic without an iceberg in sight. Smooth sailing, calm waters, full steam ahead. Don't. Look. Back.
IT IS ABOUT TIME.
Whew! Mr. President, my fog is lifting, and I wish you luck in finding the light that can lift the mucky haze from the American economy and people.
I wish it were not so real for you.
While President Obama is feverishly trying to stimulate the economy, I am desperately trying to stimulate my brain which has been misfiring all my life. The catch is that it's a lot easier to stimulate a brain IF you have the right tools than to stimulate a sagging, ailing economy. The irony is that it's taken me 42 years of struggle to find out what's wrong with me, and once discovered, it seems almost too easy. For our economy, however, there are multiple layers of reasons for its malfunction, and connecting the wires is a Herculean task.
I wish that creating jobs and improving the lives of Americans were so simple and fixable as my own brain. As all economists are warning, there is no magic pill, unfortunately. But for me, there is, or seems to be, at this moment. I am in the honeymoon phase of OBF optimal brain function (my own term) and each day's moments are lovely and relieving.
A couple of weeks ago I was diagnosed with adult ADD. That's Attention Deficit Disorder, for all of you whose brains are functioning optimally today. No, I do not have the ADHD type, "H" standing for hyper. Most adults don't actually. I have come up with a few of my own words to make it sound better, or sillier than it actually is, like ALWAYS DOING DUMB things or ALWAYS DREADING the DAY or ATTENTION: DRAMA DANCE coming your way or ATTENTION: DISASTER DEAD ahead or other nonsense.
Just one more: ATTENTION: DUH! DUH!!!!!!!!
But this disorder is real, as real as my heart pumping blood. Real.
Multiple times a day since the diagnosis I say to myself, "Oh yeah, that's why that happened and that's why I did that." If anymore light bulbs go on in my brain I will have to put on sunglasses to fight the glare of revelation that has opened up to me.
Since I started taking my stimulant medication I have gone from feeling half dead to feeling alive. The snow is pretty, not a pain in the butt. The autistic kids at school are funny instead of a pain in the butt. My children are busy, interesting and entertaining with lots of good things that I can be part of instead of energy sucking creatures that consume food, make a ton of dirty laundry and keep me taxiing around the city for hours a day. I love them so much!
Geez, will I finally be able to sit through church without wanting to get up and wander? Will I stop running to the store all the time? Will I stop overeating? Will I stop being the world's grouchiest MAMA in the mornings? Will I be able to function past 9 pm? Will I be able to finish a novel? Will I blog more than once a month? Will I start solving problems instead of creating them? Will I keep this same cell phone for more than six months? Will I? Will I? Will I? Perhaps, maybe, and I hope so more than anything.
Darren says I'm "firing from all cylinders" this week, like the Titanic without an iceberg in sight. Smooth sailing, calm waters, full steam ahead. Don't. Look. Back.
IT IS ABOUT TIME.
Whew! Mr. President, my fog is lifting, and I wish you luck in finding the light that can lift the mucky haze from the American economy and people.
I wish it were not so real for you.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Sex Education the Guy Way
It amazes me how men simplify things whereas women complicate things endlessly. Take sex ed at home.
Today we were reading the The Great Brain. We were at the when the brothers are talking about dog breeding and mating. Darren took this opportunity to ask Nathan what he knew about dogs mating and how it works. Go figure. Without a pause he moved right on to human mating before I could even blink. I was in the same room typing up something for my young women's lesson. I typed slower and slower and made more and more mistakes because I couldn't believe what I was hearing out of the blue on a Sunday afternoon.
It went something like this. Well, I don't want the parental controls to short circuit or anything, so I'll just say that my son will forever think that canine mating is the same as human mating, and that his Mom was laughing like a hyena in the background. I hope he can get the image out of his mind on his wedding night. Maybe someday he'll vow to explain things to his own children better that his own parents did. Or maybe Darren's right. The way to do it is to somehow weave the details into something that it remotely resembles, like animal mating. And then pray they don't want too many details.
In other words, the mechanics of it all was spelled out within five minutes and they were back to The Great Brain. When I turned around to look at Darren incredulously, he replied "What? That's how guys do it." Amazing. Nathan was bit red-faced and eager to get on with the story, but basically unscathed.
It was not like that for me and my girls. I worried and fretted when my oldest daughter started asking me questions--IN SECOND GRADE, NO LESS--and composed myself to come up with some textbook answers. She was young enough not to be embarrassed, and she sat thoughtfully after our little talk, with a bemused look on her face. Of course I was riddled with worry. "Is this too much information?" "Is she too young?" "Will she tell a friend?" all went through my mind. I was sick to my stomach that I had said the wrong things.
My second daughter would run from the room whenever I broached the subject, and we still have yet to have "the" conversation. Now she's 14 and it's too late. If I tried to talk to her now, she'd be halfway down the street before I could get out a sentence, madly texting her BFF how insane her mother is. "Can you even believe it, BFF?" she'd dash off.
So, Nathan's "done" so to speak. I do hope Darren smoothes things over a bit in the next little while. As for me, I'm through complicating things. I still have one girl to go, though. An approach somewhere between Darren's and mine would be ideal, but life isn't ideal.
I think I'm gonna buy her a book.
Today we were reading the The Great Brain. We were at the when the brothers are talking about dog breeding and mating. Darren took this opportunity to ask Nathan what he knew about dogs mating and how it works. Go figure. Without a pause he moved right on to human mating before I could even blink. I was in the same room typing up something for my young women's lesson. I typed slower and slower and made more and more mistakes because I couldn't believe what I was hearing out of the blue on a Sunday afternoon.
It went something like this. Well, I don't want the parental controls to short circuit or anything, so I'll just say that my son will forever think that canine mating is the same as human mating, and that his Mom was laughing like a hyena in the background. I hope he can get the image out of his mind on his wedding night. Maybe someday he'll vow to explain things to his own children better that his own parents did. Or maybe Darren's right. The way to do it is to somehow weave the details into something that it remotely resembles, like animal mating. And then pray they don't want too many details.
In other words, the mechanics of it all was spelled out within five minutes and they were back to The Great Brain. When I turned around to look at Darren incredulously, he replied "What? That's how guys do it." Amazing. Nathan was bit red-faced and eager to get on with the story, but basically unscathed.
It was not like that for me and my girls. I worried and fretted when my oldest daughter started asking me questions--IN SECOND GRADE, NO LESS--and composed myself to come up with some textbook answers. She was young enough not to be embarrassed, and she sat thoughtfully after our little talk, with a bemused look on her face. Of course I was riddled with worry. "Is this too much information?" "Is she too young?" "Will she tell a friend?" all went through my mind. I was sick to my stomach that I had said the wrong things.
My second daughter would run from the room whenever I broached the subject, and we still have yet to have "the" conversation. Now she's 14 and it's too late. If I tried to talk to her now, she'd be halfway down the street before I could get out a sentence, madly texting her BFF how insane her mother is. "Can you even believe it, BFF?" she'd dash off.
So, Nathan's "done" so to speak. I do hope Darren smoothes things over a bit in the next little while. As for me, I'm through complicating things. I still have one girl to go, though. An approach somewhere between Darren's and mine would be ideal, but life isn't ideal.
I think I'm gonna buy her a book.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Bad Bad Blogger--For Shame!
It's not like I never have time to blog. I've actually been off work all month with a dislocated shoulder. And my arm still works. So you'd think I could type just one or two little blogs. You'd think . . . I don't know what my problem is other than I'm just a major flake, OK? Anyway, here are some things I've learned in the last month since I've written.
*When you tell your husband you're done with your Christmas shopping by Thanksgiving, and then he looks at all the purchasing that is going in the Christmas column, you know you're doing a fair amount of impulse buying. Like a month's worth. And everyone's getting WAY too much for Christmas. And you're sort of in deep doo-doo. Yeah, that's me.
*A dislocated shoulder for five days (yes, I rock) hurts like hell. Lortab is good for lessening the pain and for getting off diet coke!! Yes, I'm off it after 25 years. And I owe it all to the lovely narcotic Lortab. Bless you! You eased my pain. As of this writing, I have not had caffeine, (well, OK, I've had some chocolate) since December 1, the same day I dislocated my shoulder trying to put up decorations. And I really don't miss it. I guess it is possible to improve your health a little at a time. Any ideas on how to get off the Lortab? HA! Just kidding.
*I think we underestimate the power of a good night's sleep. I've had sleep apnea for a couple of years now and just got diagnosed last month. Now that I am getting better sleep, everything is improving in my life. Lots of sleep is a beautiful thing.
*My girls can make more money babysitting than I can working in the public schools. All they do is babysit. I'm glad they can buy their own Christmas gifts since I've already exhausted that department. I'm proud of them for being good babysitters. Oh, and by the way, I used to make $1 an hour babysitting. And the kids I babysat were ROTTEN TO THE CORE! My mother made 25 cents an hour. And my daughters make wads of cash. Not fair that in one generation babysitting inflation has gone up 100 percent! My grandmother would tell me that life's just not fair, and that I shouldn't complain. She probably made 5 cents an hour! And she was probably just fine with that. Oh, the injustice of it all!
* My Christmas tree is gorgeous. It makes me happy. I will rip it down and trample it in another week, but for right now, it's just lovely.
I am loving reading A Christmas Carol. The language the message, the lessons are all so inspiring this time of year. I would like to take this opportunity to quote a passage that I find particulary moving. Scrooge and the ghost Marley are discussing Marley's demise because of his negligence of his "fellow-beings" AND Scrooge's imminent demise if he doesn't change his ways:
"But you were always a good man in business, Jacob," faltered Scrogge, who now began to apply this to himself.
"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing his hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"
It held up its chain at arm's length, as if that were the cause of all its unavailing grief, and flung it heavily upon the ground.
"At this time of the rolling year," the spectre said, "I suffer most. Why did I walk through the crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me?"
Have a Merry Christmas, and may we all remember to be concerned with our "fellow-beings" who are in need every day.
*When you tell your husband you're done with your Christmas shopping by Thanksgiving, and then he looks at all the purchasing that is going in the Christmas column, you know you're doing a fair amount of impulse buying. Like a month's worth. And everyone's getting WAY too much for Christmas. And you're sort of in deep doo-doo. Yeah, that's me.
*A dislocated shoulder for five days (yes, I rock) hurts like hell. Lortab is good for lessening the pain and for getting off diet coke!! Yes, I'm off it after 25 years. And I owe it all to the lovely narcotic Lortab. Bless you! You eased my pain. As of this writing, I have not had caffeine, (well, OK, I've had some chocolate) since December 1, the same day I dislocated my shoulder trying to put up decorations. And I really don't miss it. I guess it is possible to improve your health a little at a time. Any ideas on how to get off the Lortab? HA! Just kidding.
*I think we underestimate the power of a good night's sleep. I've had sleep apnea for a couple of years now and just got diagnosed last month. Now that I am getting better sleep, everything is improving in my life. Lots of sleep is a beautiful thing.
*My girls can make more money babysitting than I can working in the public schools. All they do is babysit. I'm glad they can buy their own Christmas gifts since I've already exhausted that department. I'm proud of them for being good babysitters. Oh, and by the way, I used to make $1 an hour babysitting. And the kids I babysat were ROTTEN TO THE CORE! My mother made 25 cents an hour. And my daughters make wads of cash. Not fair that in one generation babysitting inflation has gone up 100 percent! My grandmother would tell me that life's just not fair, and that I shouldn't complain. She probably made 5 cents an hour! And she was probably just fine with that. Oh, the injustice of it all!
* My Christmas tree is gorgeous. It makes me happy. I will rip it down and trample it in another week, but for right now, it's just lovely.
I am loving reading A Christmas Carol. The language the message, the lessons are all so inspiring this time of year. I would like to take this opportunity to quote a passage that I find particulary moving. Scrooge and the ghost Marley are discussing Marley's demise because of his negligence of his "fellow-beings" AND Scrooge's imminent demise if he doesn't change his ways:
"But you were always a good man in business, Jacob," faltered Scrogge, who now began to apply this to himself.
"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing his hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"
It held up its chain at arm's length, as if that were the cause of all its unavailing grief, and flung it heavily upon the ground.
"At this time of the rolling year," the spectre said, "I suffer most. Why did I walk through the crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me?"
Have a Merry Christmas, and may we all remember to be concerned with our "fellow-beings" who are in need every day.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Gratitude in Fractions
Life moves along whether you blog or not. So I'd better blog before I forget everything that is happening in my life. Of course my legions of followers will be upset if I neglect them too long.
Things to be grateful for today:
1. The school year is 1/3 over. The principal reminded us of this with cookies in the faculty room. I can't believe I've actually survived 60 days in the autistic unit. Only 120 more. I remain unscathed as of today, but who knows what could happen tomorrow.
2. My Christmas shopping is 2/3 done. Thanks to a day off a couple weeks ago and Darren's great gift ideas, we're well on our way to the finish line. That's a good feeling.
3. The sun has been shining 2/3 of the time. If there were a sun god I would worship him or her, because I hate life without it.
4. I have been working out three days a week at Curves which is 100 percent of my goal. Lesson learned: If I make smaller goals I can reach them. If I would have said 4 or 5 days a week, then I wouldn't be reaching my goal, and that would be another thing to fail at. Know what I mean?
5. My house is 1/2 clean. It will never be 100% clean, so I will take what I can get. Darren has been going crazy cleaning with our new Kirby vacuum. He's got to get his money's worth. Our carpets look better than they have for months.
6. The work week is 4/5 over. Who can't handle one measly Friday? What could possibly happen on Friday that could mess up my life? Hmmmmm. I don't want to find out.
7. Barack Obama is president-elect. Looking at the tears streaming down all those African American faces on national TV made me 100 percent proud to be an American. I am proud that America has looked beyond race and made the right choice. I am hopeful and excited for the future. I am intrigued by this intelligent, understanding man.
8. Sammie's play is over. Oklahoma was great succes! It was 50 percent wonderful, 50 percent a pain. But she made some great new friends, so I am 100 percent happy about that, and I know she is too.
And who ever said I was below average in math?
Things to be grateful for today:
1. The school year is 1/3 over. The principal reminded us of this with cookies in the faculty room. I can't believe I've actually survived 60 days in the autistic unit. Only 120 more. I remain unscathed as of today, but who knows what could happen tomorrow.
2. My Christmas shopping is 2/3 done. Thanks to a day off a couple weeks ago and Darren's great gift ideas, we're well on our way to the finish line. That's a good feeling.
3. The sun has been shining 2/3 of the time. If there were a sun god I would worship him or her, because I hate life without it.
4. I have been working out three days a week at Curves which is 100 percent of my goal. Lesson learned: If I make smaller goals I can reach them. If I would have said 4 or 5 days a week, then I wouldn't be reaching my goal, and that would be another thing to fail at. Know what I mean?
5. My house is 1/2 clean. It will never be 100% clean, so I will take what I can get. Darren has been going crazy cleaning with our new Kirby vacuum. He's got to get his money's worth. Our carpets look better than they have for months.
6. The work week is 4/5 over. Who can't handle one measly Friday? What could possibly happen on Friday that could mess up my life? Hmmmmm. I don't want to find out.
7. Barack Obama is president-elect. Looking at the tears streaming down all those African American faces on national TV made me 100 percent proud to be an American. I am proud that America has looked beyond race and made the right choice. I am hopeful and excited for the future. I am intrigued by this intelligent, understanding man.
8. Sammie's play is over. Oklahoma was great succes! It was 50 percent wonderful, 50 percent a pain. But she made some great new friends, so I am 100 percent happy about that, and I know she is too.
And who ever said I was below average in math?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
One Party County
Yes, I live in the reddest county in Utah, if not the whole blasted USA. For many in my neighborhood, they've forgotten that we live in a democracy. That means, all you lovers of the constitution and American values and patriotism, that I don't have to VOTE HOW YOU VOTE. I can vote how I want, and you can't do a thing about it. I wouldn't think of trying to change your mindset, and I certianly would never rip down your McCain signs.
Immature!
Yes, it's really cute to pull down my Obama/Biden lawn sign. Tee hee hee. You are so funny. What? You can't believe someone in your neighborhood who shares your religious values, does NOT share your political values? Or are you wondering do I really share your religious values? Am I going to corrupt your children at church with my liberal ideas? You can think whatever you think.
Remember when they read that statement at church two weeks ago about how political affilitation is a PERSONAL CHOICE and that our religion does NOT ENDORSE ANY SPECIFIC PARTY? Hmmmm..
I can't wait for this election to be over. I'm sick of feeling like a freak show at the circus because of my political choices.
Grow up people.
Immature!
Yes, it's really cute to pull down my Obama/Biden lawn sign. Tee hee hee. You are so funny. What? You can't believe someone in your neighborhood who shares your religious values, does NOT share your political values? Or are you wondering do I really share your religious values? Am I going to corrupt your children at church with my liberal ideas? You can think whatever you think.
Remember when they read that statement at church two weeks ago about how political affilitation is a PERSONAL CHOICE and that our religion does NOT ENDORSE ANY SPECIFIC PARTY? Hmmmm..
I can't wait for this election to be over. I'm sick of feeling like a freak show at the circus because of my political choices.
Grow up people.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
In Anticipation of my Five-Day Weekend
Now that I have a five-day weekend ahead of me, I can write a bit. That's right, I have off Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday! I am thrilled. And best of all, my birthday is tomorrow. Wasn't it sweet of the Alpine School District to give me my birthday off? I thought so.
I think I'll take the kids to Gardner Village tomorrow to see the witches. I've been wanting to go the past two weekends but it's been raining cats and dogs. Tomorrow is supposed to be glorious.
Today was a crazy day at school. Don't ask me how autistic kids know it's a three-day week instead of a five-day week, and so they need to fall apart on the last day of the three day week---but do they ever! It was a circus.
There was a lot of whining about not wanting to do spelling, PE and everything else. One boy cried for Mommy off and on. Some even broke down in tears over the fact that they didn't want to go to PE, and how mean the PE teacher is. One kid spent most of the day lying on the floor, refusing to get up and untying his shoes the minute I tied them. He found my marker hiding place, and now I've got to find of new one. He refused to go to the bathroom and then had an accident right before lunch, and when we tried to get him to go change instead of get in line for lunch, he pitched a fit, thinking he would have to miss lunch. So he went to lunch in a very bad way, and sicked us all out.
Toward the end of the day I didn't care if he was lying on the floor, if his shoes were untied or if he stole all my markers. I just wanted him to go home to his poor mother who has probably gone completely gray and senile because of him.
We had head bumps, pushing, slamming doors, throwing blocks and screaming and swearing, among other lovely situations. We had ketchup everywhere after lunch and filthy hands from playing with the rubber on the playground. We had to run extra laps because of not listening. Oh yeah, one kid got his head stuck in the back of a chair and we had to figure out how to get him out. He also refused to do his spelling, and missed recess because of it.
This is real life baby!
Some good things happened, too. I got some chocolates for my birthday. I got to check out a brand new book from the school library. I got to visit with some nice teachers during lunch. I got to pay $200 for a new retainer for Sammie. Oh wait, that's not on the good list. But it still happened. Yep, Sammie stepped on her retainer, and no amount of super glue could undo the damage. Way to go Sam! Oh, and Merry Christmas, too!
In other bad news, my cell phone went through the wash and is not very happy about it at all. It thinks every call is a roaming call, and is continually in "searching for service" mode. I will not mention how many of my other cell phones this has happened to because it speaks very poorly of my ability to care properly for them. And other things, unfortunately.
I think I'll take the kids to Gardner Village tomorrow to see the witches. I've been wanting to go the past two weekends but it's been raining cats and dogs. Tomorrow is supposed to be glorious.
Today was a crazy day at school. Don't ask me how autistic kids know it's a three-day week instead of a five-day week, and so they need to fall apart on the last day of the three day week---but do they ever! It was a circus.
There was a lot of whining about not wanting to do spelling, PE and everything else. One boy cried for Mommy off and on. Some even broke down in tears over the fact that they didn't want to go to PE, and how mean the PE teacher is. One kid spent most of the day lying on the floor, refusing to get up and untying his shoes the minute I tied them. He found my marker hiding place, and now I've got to find of new one. He refused to go to the bathroom and then had an accident right before lunch, and when we tried to get him to go change instead of get in line for lunch, he pitched a fit, thinking he would have to miss lunch. So he went to lunch in a very bad way, and sicked us all out.
Toward the end of the day I didn't care if he was lying on the floor, if his shoes were untied or if he stole all my markers. I just wanted him to go home to his poor mother who has probably gone completely gray and senile because of him.
We had head bumps, pushing, slamming doors, throwing blocks and screaming and swearing, among other lovely situations. We had ketchup everywhere after lunch and filthy hands from playing with the rubber on the playground. We had to run extra laps because of not listening. Oh yeah, one kid got his head stuck in the back of a chair and we had to figure out how to get him out. He also refused to do his spelling, and missed recess because of it.
This is real life baby!
Some good things happened, too. I got some chocolates for my birthday. I got to check out a brand new book from the school library. I got to visit with some nice teachers during lunch. I got to pay $200 for a new retainer for Sammie. Oh wait, that's not on the good list. But it still happened. Yep, Sammie stepped on her retainer, and no amount of super glue could undo the damage. Way to go Sam! Oh, and Merry Christmas, too!
In other bad news, my cell phone went through the wash and is not very happy about it at all. It thinks every call is a roaming call, and is continually in "searching for service" mode. I will not mention how many of my other cell phones this has happened to because it speaks very poorly of my ability to care properly for them. And other things, unfortunately.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)