All the children have been safely dropped at school and now is the blessed time I've had so little of as of late where I'm all alone, watching the news, drinking a cup of tea with honey, and updating the old blog. Ah, blissful silence. A surprise bout with what seems to be the flu has forced me to settle down a bit and what better way to spend time than blogging? (reading on a the beach on a warm day in Maine, yes, that wouldn't suck either)
In Grant news (my new teenage houseguest), we've had ups and downs, unfortunately more downs than anything else. He may/may not be going back with his mother at the end of this school year. We are trying our best, but in the end, it may be that the kid just wants his mom to do the job she was supposed to do all along. I don't know. As for now, everyone involved is committed to him finishing his school year in our district, in our home. After spending a weekend with his mother, Grant seems to be less combative and ready to take advantage of the opportunity here instead of squashing it to unrecognizable bits. My peaceful house vibe reared its beautiful head yesterday and I'm hoping it stays around for a while instead of sinking back down and hiding out.
In other personal news, I've been reading "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolleand bought it for a good friend as well (24 Crayons). In the beginning, I had reservations because:
a) It's connected to Oprah.
b) It's connected to Oprah.
c) It's an Oprah book club book.
OK, you get the point, but I can tell you ... even for those of you who don't particularly adopt Oprah as your own personal deity, this book is life changing. It took me a while to get to the life changing parts, some re-reading and digesting, but I can honestly say, if not for this book, I may have already brought Grant back to his mother. It's helping me in all facets of my life though and in the biggest parts -- letting go of wanting to control and my inner anger. I just recommend it highly.
Besides that, spring is coming. Well, that's what the weathermen in upstate NY tell us even though we had a huge snowstorm last Friday, but tomato plants have arrived in stores along with flowers, seeds, containers, and soil. I may have to dig underneath a couple feet of snow to be able to plant any of it, but hey, it's a labor of love, just like life itself.
New person living in my home, springtime, and just general upheaval. I can't really give any time to reading or writing right now. As Arnold once said though ... I'll be back.
Grant, my son's best friend since the age of 6, now officially lives with us. His mother completed papers stating he would live with us permanently (until adulthood) full-time, including all weekends and holidays/vacations and had them notarized to boot. We were a bit surprised she didn't want him at all at any time, but she was also sure to mark down "not responsible for child financially." Thanks, Mom!
We had a bit of a rocky start, Grant testing the waters a bit, but after only a few days, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. He's settling in fine and responding great to routine and structure. All papers are signed, notarized and delivered, yet there's still one problem -- he still isn't in school.
So, what's the hold-up? Say hello to our middle school's new principal -- a stern man with a buzz cut, who I kid you not, could give Mr. Woodcock a run for his money. While I was supposed to be going to his office yesterday just to drop off papers and pick up Grant's schedule, I instead sat in his office while the man glared at me, yawned, asked meaningless question regarding Grant's background, yawned some more, asked a new meaningless question about if Grant was a disciplinary problem, yawned some more, and then cut me off when I finally began to speak by just turning and picking up the phone. It was BIZARRE. The kind of bizarre where you can't help, but think Alan Funt's corpse is going to pop and say, "Surprise, you're on Candid Camera!"
I left with a vague idea of Grant starting school possibly tomorrow and a bit of rage starting up inside of me, but nothing actually concrete. I decided to call in the big dog, AKA husband. I didn't want to do it, but today the principal will now have the unpleasant task of explaining to my husband why he feels keeping a child who has been legally living in with us in his school district since the 14th with his knowledge has been made to be truant from school for 3 days. "But hold on a second," I imagine hubby saying, "Don't explain this to me. Please, let's call the superintendent and have you explain it to him as well." One of the things I most treasure about my husband: he gets results. One more thing: he actually cares for another teenage son emotionally and financially as if he were his own without complaint.
Now if I could just get over the fact that I have a 13, 14, and 15 year old. Heck, I always wanted four children. I just didn't think I'd start having them again in my late 30's and almost fully grown. Upside - no morning sickness, stretch marks or elephant ankles.
So, what surprises have you bloggers out there had lately? The good, bad, or even the fugly?
Forgive me, Tone Loc, for I have sinned ... and massacred the name of your 1989 hit for my own selfish gain. Oh well, you didn't write it anyway. Atleast, that's the word on the street, "street" being Wikipedia.
Funky Cold Medusa -- that's how I feel.
First, I desperately want spring to occur. While I have enjoyed the camouflage of bulky sweaters and my trusty hooded sweatshirt, I still find myself believing the weatherman's seductive promises of warmer days. 35 degrees is a paltry "warmer." I'm not complaining. Well, yes, I am, but I fully realize 35 is better than -35. I'm just really ready for the ice and snow to disappear already, if only on the 400' driveway I have to Scooby Doo try to run up when I leave and sliiiiiiiide down when I return.
Then on top of it, I live in NY, so can't watch television without the Spitz 'er Swallows coverage preempting anything and everything. Enough already! It was illegal, he cheated on his wife, disgraces the family, his daughters, and didn't want to use a condom, the prostitute had a Myspace page, gasp, shock, awe -- I don't care! If this messes with Smallville or Reaper tonight, I'm throwing the tv out the window.
And now for the biggest upset of all, the piest de' resistance if you will, my son's best friend (the one I've written about more than a few times) is actually coming to live with us tonight or tomorrow. His mother was going to ship him back to an abusive alcoholic pot smoking father, but dear old dad didn't even want him, so hubby and I volunteered for the job. Lunatic mother of boy accepted ... only to change her mind a day later BUT called back two days later (last night) saying, "No, he needs to be with you. I was listening to friends and family telling me this is wrong, but this is what he wants, it's what's best for him. I'll handle everything tomorrow with the schools and sign whatever you want me to sign." She's basically handing her kid to me, the same one who is failing the 8th grade and who I'm told, "desperately needs your help if he's even to make it to high school next year. I just can't do it."
I feel like this is both a blessing and a curse. I try to stay in the present moment, but in Medusa-like fashion, the little snakes in my mind say, "Where will you get the extra money?" (Crazy mom has already said she can't afford to give us anything, but we didn't ask or expect it.) Then there's, "How will this affect the kids you have? Your son? Will he now start doing poorly as a result of living with a best friend and feeling it's a free for all?" Oh, and let's not forget the ever popular, "Son's best friend doesn't even have insurance and can't be put on your husband's, his mom for some reason won't put him on Medicaid even though her other two children have it, so what will you do for doctor's appointments, dental and eye care?" Call me insane, but I'm big on dental and eye care ... even the yearly physical. Humph.
And these are the days of our lives. Perhaps with time I'll have that cool "look me in the eye and you will turn to stone" power. Hey, it could happen. There'd be a lot of lawn statues around if it did. You ever see the "Git R Done" guy in alabaster, you'll know what happened.
Hope your week is going better than mine, Bloggers and Buds. Any signs of springtime in your necks of the wood?
Yes, I am addicted to knitting, thank you very much. In January, I began making baby hats (my niece was due for her first child) and wanted to share some of the outcomes with you all. The during and the after. It was the first time I used double pointed needles, four of them to be exact ... and they're a lot less intimidating than I first thought.
Anyhow, if you like the design and knit, it's right online if you Google "tomato beanie baby." This is not how I found it, but googling this does work. I am a cotton girl and used Peaches and Cream yarn in multi-baby, basic red, purple, sage, and emerald green. All else was exactly like the pattern on the net.
My first baby hat in progress. First baby hat done. Tomato hat made into eggplant hat (changed stem), in progress. Eggplant hat done. Tomato hat done.
Today is my daughter's birthday so when I have more time, longer post, possibly one dedicated to daughter unless she says, "Absolutely not, Lady!" Happy Monday, All! Happy birthday, Daughter!
