June 2009

1. Coffee is taking Maymo to school this morning. Then he’s coming home to spend an entire day WITH ME. ALL ALONE. NO KIDS. *squeeeee!!!*
2. Maymo is truly excited about going to Michelle’s house this afternoon.
3. I slept, again, last night. No, it wasn’t perfect and it took forever to get myself comfortable but.. I SLEPT!
4. Out of the blue, Oldest One asked me if he “did a good job combing [his] hair today” which.. is the weirdest question ever because I wasn’t aware he had problems combing his hair or.. whatever… umm. yeah.
5. It’s the (virtual) weekend!!!

Oldest One has spent the past few days pushing every button known to man in what appears to be an attempt to get himself in as much trouble as humanly possible. Other than literally holding his hand and guiding him from one task to the next, I’m at a loss as to how to improve this situation.

He wants freedoms – sleepovers, paintball parties, staying up really late – but makes no effort whatsoever to follow even the simplest of family rules. He ignores his chores, pouts when he doesn’t get his way, cries when everything is “unfair” and resists all attempts by Coffee and I to lead him down the right path.

Every consequence we put in place has a means to resolve it – either by making amends or exhibiting wonderful behaviour for a certain time period, or something else that’s spelled out clearly. He ignores us and, instead of working on those goals, he simply adds more consequences to his life by doing something else.

Then he complains that he has no freedoms.

Then I remind him of what he needs to do to get those freedoms back.

Then he ignores me.

Wits end? Why yes, I am THERE.

But that’s not all!

About a week ago, I told him that he couldn’t have his desk light on the carpet because it’s not safe – it has a halogen bulb that gets really, really hot – and that he needed to keep it either on his desk or on his bedside table. He said he understood, moved it and, two days later, it was back on the carpet.

When I asked why it was there, he looked at me like I was a complete idiot and said, “Because I wanted to read while lying on the floor.”

He seemed surprised that I took the light away.

Need another example of why I’m losing my mind?

In anticipation of the kids possibly babysitting themselves for an hour or two when I’m at school next year myself, we’ve been getting the kids into a routine each day. At 3:25, when they’re on their way home, I lock myself into the bedroom and pretend I’m not home.

The boys come home to find a note from me on the table. Every day, the note reminds them to empty their lunch bags (Oldest One, in particular, tends to have a lot of goo and garbage in there), eat a snack (and clean up after themselves) and get their chores done before they play.

All told, this takes about 45 minutes at the very most, and part of that includes homework from school. We have a “work comes before play” rule and, given the number of evenings where we normally have Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Writing Club and other events, we have to get things done!

After the chores are done, they’re able to play – whether in the playroom, on the Wii, the xbox, on the computer, or watching a movie. Free time! Do whatever you want!

Oldest One is “in charge” inasmuch as he’s required to keep an eye on his brothers and make sure they’re getting things done. We have explained his responsibilities to him and, tomorrow night, he’s attending a formal babysitting course, too. We’re paying him for every day that he looks after his brothers – even though I’m actually still home.

The problem is that he ignores my letter, leaves pools of milk on the table from his snack, doesn’t empty out his lunch bag, and ‘forgets’ to check his chore chart. He’s mean to his brother. I seriously have no idea what he’s doing on those days when things don’t get done – he shrugs and his brothers say he’s “goofing around.”

Meanwhile, Middle One and Maymo are getting their stuff done. The 9 year old and the 5 year old are MORE RESPONSIBLE than the 12 year old.

Oldest One cannot see why this might bother me a little bit.

I have added notes in “ALL CAPS” reminding him of what needs to be done. I’ve reminded him that on a particular day, he needs to get everything done so he can go to Scouts. I’ve reminded him that he needs to put forth an effort on his tasks if he wants to go to a friend’s place on the weekend.

NADA.

Today he came home, using his key, and locked the door behind him (as he’s expected to do.) A few minutes later I heard what sounded like someone hammering – a repeated banging and banging and banging. I could hear Oldest One moving around, talking to Maymo, and the banging continued.

After about 10 minutes, during which time the banging was off and on, I decided the kids were doing something inappropriate that required me to check it out. I found Middle One locked outside, sobbing hysterically, banging on the door.

Oldest One knew he was there but didn’t let him in and instructed Maymo not to let him in, either.

He couldn’t figure out why this might be a problem. Why locking your brother out in the yard – the brother you’re in charge of – while he sobs and bangs on the door, isn’t acceptable. After all, isn’t it Middle One’s fault for not remembering his key?

Maymo, on the other hand, was upset. Middle One was obviously upset.

And I’m upset!

The undone chores, the “unfairness” of everything that goes on, the meanness to his brother, the unrealistic expectations, the refusal to fix the mistakes he makes.. I’m losing my mind.

We have tried rewarding him for good behaviour, we’ve tried consequences for bad behaviour.

We have tried long talks. We’ve tried short talks.

We’ve tried asking him for his input on “how we can solve this problem together”.

Nothing. No progress. He slumps around pissed off that we have expectations and consequences and won’t let him just do whatever he wants. He shows no urge whatsoever to work toward any of his own goals – whether in the short term or long term – because, in his own words, he’s “lazy”.

I can accept lazy if it’s balanced with an acceptance on his part that laziness isn’t going to get him anywhere in terms of the freedoms he wants. Really, in life, those who choose not participate don’t get to reap the rewards of hard work – and if they’re okay with it, well, who am I to say otherwise?

Yes, therapy this summer. Yes, I need to do some deep breathing. No, I do not think I am going to enjoy the coming teenage years.

I slept last night. Boy howdy, I slept! Between the constant pain in my shoulder/back and the possible medication side effects, it’s been a shitty long week with the shitty non-sleeping and I was starting to feel quite anxious that I’d never sleep again. EVER. And then I’d slowly go insane and drool a lot and have no friends.

Huh? Catastrophic thinking? Me? Ha!

–

This morning Coffee and I both awoke with.. unpleasant stomachs. The kids seemed fine, but who knows? We’re guessing it’s a touch of food poisoning, perhaps, which normally would simply be a nuisance if it weren’t for the fact that Oldest One is at a TRACK MEET today and Middle One is at a PARK.

Coffee noted that we may need to sell the house and move if the kids experience the same symptoms we did and are unable to find a bathroom in which to hunker down for 2 hours straight. Apparently he knew a kid back in the day who had an unfortunate incident and never, ever lived it down. (I bet he’s in therapy right now.)

What I’m saying here, I guess, is please send constipating vibes to our children.

(Never let it be said that I’m not up-front about my wants.)

–

Tomorrow Coffee has the day off from work so he and I can hang out together. My friend Michelle is picking Maymo up from school and taking him home with her (she does daycare, so he’ll be giddy about the whole deal) and this is just all around AWESOME.

We’re doing the same thing on Monday, too, which means that Coffee gets a long weekend from work.

There will be sushi consumed.

I am aiming to get laid.

What more could a girl ask for??

–

Ps: What colour underpants are you wearing today?

1. I SLEPT! I GOT SOME SLEEP! THERE WAS SLEEPING!!!
2. Today is a semi-Friday. Coffee has tomorrow off from work!
3. Cool, drippy, rainy weather is a nice change.
4. My stomach, which earlier today was incredibly unhappy, seems to be feeling a bit happier.
5. Did I mention that I slept last night? I DID!!!

1. Maymo’s excitement over getting a ham sandwich in his lunch today.
2. The cool air outside, even if it means a storm might be coming.
3. Advil, Traumeel and Coffee’s hands to make my shoulder/back/neck feel a bit better.
4. A new hose, sprinkler and hand-held sprayer for under $29.
5. Dogs who are excited to see me when I walk out of my bedroom. Heh.

1. The kitten, feeling feisty, pulled a bunch of cherries out of the bowl on the counter, dropped them on the floor, and played with them.
2. The beagle just spent 5 minutes systematically licking the protective bag of a sleeping bag. WTF, beagle?
3. Daisy has recently decided that she and I need to snuggle up on the landing of the stairs every morning as soon as she greets me (thus thwarting my attempts to go upstairs to pee).
4. We started treating JubJub with the meds for his swim bladder issue.
5. Chipmunks, squirrels, bunnies.. Kitchener is a fabulous city for wildlife.

1. Despite my insomnia issues, I have a very comfortable bed with a fluffy duvet and soft pillows and t-shirt sheets. Luxury!
2. Coffee and I have matching cellphones. It’s now just a matter of time before we’re wearing matching sweaters and pant suits. :)
3. Late-night sex. *ahem* (WHAT?)
4. The guy in line at Shopper’s Drug Mart who noticed my UFC hoodie and started chatting about Chuck Liddell. And, btw, he is NOT RETIRED. SO SUCK ON IT, PEOPLE. SUCK. ON. IT.
5. Coffee has Friday (and next Monday) off from work so we can hang out. I like this plan very, very much thank you.

I can’t sleep.

Not that I’m trying at this very moment, obviously, but.. I can’t sleep when I should be able to sleep. Jammas on, teeth brushed, curled up in bed and not sleeping.

This has been going on for days (nights?) now – including Saturday night when I took one of the prescription sleeping pills in my arsenal and still lay there wide awake. Ohgodkillmenow.

Before bedtime, I’m yawning and starting to get that snuggle-up-and-sleep urge. Once I’m in bed, I drift for a very brief period of time and then.. BLAM! AWAKE! HELLO! HOW ARE YOU? WHAT’S NEW?!

I’m going to lose my mind if this continues.

Consider yourself forewarned.

1. In a few minutes, I will actually get to shower. This means, for once, I won’t be showing up to school on Monday morning looking a complete mess. GO ME!
2. Clean laundry, clean jammas, cleaned kids’ rooms, clean clean clean! (We’ll ignore the other rooms and spots, ok?)
3. The Fooducate blog.
4. Finishing up a whole bunch of library books for Coffee to return tomorrow. YAY!
5. Flossing my teeth. Then brushing. Then cleaning my bite guard. FRESH! :)