I certainly thought the door would be gone a while because K actually said he didn't mind it being gone, and hubby liked it gone so that K would sleep through the night instead of playing. Hubby decided to put the door back on after a fight over K'nex toys between both boys.
Yesterday afternoon, K was happily playing with his K'nex and was building what looked like the Mars rover/lander/whatever that car-thing was on Mars. J happened to be bored with whatever he was doing in his own room and walked right on into K's room and started building something with the K'nex. Apparently he had taken a piece that K wanted and they started arguing. K came out to the living room where hubby and I were and explained the situation. I just didn't really have any good advice as I was burnt out from a full day of work. I just looked at him and said, "I can just as easily take all the K'nex away and then you won't be able to play with them. You two should be able to work this out for yourselves." Hmm...
Not five minutes later, hubby and I heard K yelling at J to get out of his room and that he wanted to play by himself. It was a constant thing, "Get out of my room!!" Obviously J couldn't care less and continued to play. K continued, more loudly this time, "GET.OUT.OF.MY.ROOM!" Still J continued to play. Hubby hollered down the hall, "J, get out of his room and go do something else." Suddenly, we heard K bawling (he was in full-out pain, obviously) and hubby hollered for J to come into the living room. J came along and said that K had stood up right where J was stepping and that he 'accidentally' kicked K. Hubby had J do a strong sit by the living room windows. J was trying to state he was innocent and it was an accident but we didn't believe him because of his track record with hurting K.
I got up off the couch and went into K's room to see if he was ok. He said that J had kicked him in the gut. Now, if J had just been casually walking out of K's room, how in the world would he have been able to kick K in the gut? Something's fishy here. He would have had to kick high. Maybe K was still on the ground, playing, when J kicked him. Their stories don't jive.
Anyway, the door is back on. J thinks he is in the clear and not in any bit of trouble, but the truth is that hubby is still very angry about the whole thing. K is only 7 and J is almost 13 with a slight anger-management problem. Whenever they have a disagreement, K gets hurt. Maybe it's just that way with boys. I don't know - I just have a sister and I don't remember acting that way.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
The doorless wonder
K got his door taken away on Saturday night. I warned him that if he (or the neighbor kids who were there at the time) slammed the door or threw things at the door over and over (which had been happening) that the door would go away. Well, you guessed it - the door got removed and has not been returned.
This is not unusual in our house, you see, as we have done this before with both boys. They have learned that if they throw something at their door, shove something up against the door so no one can come in, or slam the door, the door will be taken off the hinges.
I thought maybe, by now, it would be time to put K's door back on, but my hubby thought it should stay off for a little bit longer. I asked why and he said that K had not been playing in his room at night. He tends to do that quite a bit. He has toys with a light source (Spy Gear binoculars and a light-bright thing for coloring) and he uses those to see and or to play with when he should be sleeping.
I guess we'll let it go for a little longer. I do wish his door was back in place so the poor kid could have privacy and also so he won't be hearing house noises (voices, t.v. volume) while he's supposed to be sleeping. We'll see how it goes.
This is not unusual in our house, you see, as we have done this before with both boys. They have learned that if they throw something at their door, shove something up against the door so no one can come in, or slam the door, the door will be taken off the hinges.
I thought maybe, by now, it would be time to put K's door back on, but my hubby thought it should stay off for a little bit longer. I asked why and he said that K had not been playing in his room at night. He tends to do that quite a bit. He has toys with a light source (Spy Gear binoculars and a light-bright thing for coloring) and he uses those to see and or to play with when he should be sleeping.
I guess we'll let it go for a little longer. I do wish his door was back in place so the poor kid could have privacy and also so he won't be hearing house noises (voices, t.v. volume) while he's supposed to be sleeping. We'll see how it goes.
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Bicker Brothers are at it again
I gave my boys the group nickname "The Bicker Brothers." They argue a lot and pick on each other a lot. I don't know why they do it; you'd think they'd learn by now, but no. At least once a day I tell them to treat each other how they, individually, would want to be treated.
The other day at lunchtime, we were sitting at the table and the boys were fighting, calling each other names and carrying on. I told them to stop and try to say something nice about each other instead of fighting. The youngest thought of all sorts of things about his brother, starting with "I love you" and ending with "I like your hair." The oldest couldn't think of a single nice thing to say about his little brother. I was appalled!! How pathetic it was that J couldn't think of anything! I know J wishes K had never been born, and that he could trade in his little brother for a new model, but I felt horrible for K.
I think next time they argue, I'll have them whisper their argument. I'm sure it won't continue much longer and they may end up laughing instead.
The other day at lunchtime, we were sitting at the table and the boys were fighting, calling each other names and carrying on. I told them to stop and try to say something nice about each other instead of fighting. The youngest thought of all sorts of things about his brother, starting with "I love you" and ending with "I like your hair." The oldest couldn't think of a single nice thing to say about his little brother. I was appalled!! How pathetic it was that J couldn't think of anything! I know J wishes K had never been born, and that he could trade in his little brother for a new model, but I felt horrible for K.
I think next time they argue, I'll have them whisper their argument. I'm sure it won't continue much longer and they may end up laughing instead.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Resolutions, anyone?
It's the start of a new year once again. We go through this same thing every 365 days. It's time we assess our lives and decide if we want to better ourselves or do things differently this year.
I asked my family if any of them had any New Year's resolutions. My husband said that he didn't make any and he never does. My youngest (7) said, "I am going to make lunch for mom once a week." Melted my heart, I tell you! My oldest couldn't think of anything, so I gave him one that I thought he would say (if he had thought about it long enough). I said, "I would imagine you saying something like 'I want to get a really good score on a Wii game'" and everyone thought that was a great idea and a good resolution. No one really asked me what my resolutions were or if I had any. Well, here is what I have come up with and they are in no particular order:
I asked my family if any of them had any New Year's resolutions. My husband said that he didn't make any and he never does. My youngest (7) said, "I am going to make lunch for mom once a week." Melted my heart, I tell you! My oldest couldn't think of anything, so I gave him one that I thought he would say (if he had thought about it long enough). I said, "I would imagine you saying something like 'I want to get a really good score on a Wii game'" and everyone thought that was a great idea and a good resolution. No one really asked me what my resolutions were or if I had any. Well, here is what I have come up with and they are in no particular order:
- Organize my house
- Finish all the books in the house that have been sitting, unread, for a long time
- Cook more to give hubby a break, even though he enjoys cooking
- Blog more often
- Sew more
- Lean to knit and crochet
- Spend time alone with God more
- Declutter
- Scrapbook more
That's enough. That's almost so much that I want to run for the hills and never come back! Oh, but I'm an adult and can't do that... as tempting as it sounds. I need to reprioritize my life and get back to the things I used to enjoy. Nowadays, it's all workworkwork and help-the-kids-with-their-homework and help-with-dinner and get-the-kids-in-the-tub/shower and make-sure-the-kids-have-done-their-chores and on and on. I need to make time for myself and the things I want to accomplish in the coming year.
So here's to 2010. A new year, a new attitude - out with the old and in with the new.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
He's forgetful and today I am grateful
Last night at church, the boys went their separate ways (to their designated classes or groups). J is in the youth group (middle school & high school kids) and I'm not totally sure he pays attention to what is being said by the pastor. When he came downstairs after his service was done, he handed me a sheet of paper. All he said was, "Here," and handed it to me. I glanced at it and it was a permission slip. I said, "What's this for?" He said it was for next week's gathering and after I really looked at it, it was for the holiday party. I asked how much it cost as there is usually a fee involved when I'm handed a permission slip. He said it didn't cost anything. I looked down at where it said "Cost:" and saw that it said "Offering for a Wii." I asked who the Wii was for, like if it was for the youth group, and he said it was for old people. I said, "Old people? What old people?" He said the youth group was going to some place that had old people. I was thinking maybe a nursing home or something but not totally sure. I said, "How old are these old people?" He said, "I don't know. They're just old." I then asked how much he was going to give to the offering. He said, "Well, I have two quarters." WHAT???? TWO quarters? That's it????? I got mad and let him know it.
Have I not raised him to be sacrificial? I thought I had. Of course, he came to live with us when he was eight, and before that he had been given everything he wanted without having to work for it. Spoiled little kid to some extent, but living in squalor and filth didn't make up for it. I know that my birthday came and went and he never would have lifted a finger or done anything for me, being that he's 12 and self-centered, but my husband made him go shopping for a present for me. Apparently J, at the cash register, remembered he hadn't brought his money and/or debit card. So, after the fact, I learned that J still owed my husband the money for the present. I told hubby to just transfer the money from J's bank account to his (hubby's) and be done with it. The fact that J doesn't want to part with his money is one thing, but to only offer 50 cents out of his stash of at least $100 is pathetic. Fifty cents for the Wii offering - not my present. I know that ended up being $25. Hubby made J spend a good amount because I am mom and I have done so much for him.
When we got home from church last night, I was still on J's case and hubby said "Are you going to lay off him now?" I said, "No, because for some reason he is being very selfish and unwilling to part with his money. He won't even pay you back for my birthday present!" And at that, hubby agreed with my point of view about the offering. J had gone to put on jammies and went into the bathroom. I was walking down the hall when he came out of the bathroom, and he just walked right past me without saying a word, went into his room, closed the door and turned off the light. I said, "Goodnight to you, too."
This morning I was ready for the worst from him and was ready to discuss the issue rationally and without getting angry. Well, he was in a great mood and either forgot about the whole topic entirely or just didn't care. He gave me a hug and started talking about the weather. Fine. I am actually relieved. However, I know it'll come up again and we'll have to talk about why he only wanted to offer 50 cents towards a Wii. I actually want to e-mail the youth pastor to find out exactly what the holiday party activities will be and who these "old people" are. Maybe he can enlighten me.
Have I not raised him to be sacrificial? I thought I had. Of course, he came to live with us when he was eight, and before that he had been given everything he wanted without having to work for it. Spoiled little kid to some extent, but living in squalor and filth didn't make up for it. I know that my birthday came and went and he never would have lifted a finger or done anything for me, being that he's 12 and self-centered, but my husband made him go shopping for a present for me. Apparently J, at the cash register, remembered he hadn't brought his money and/or debit card. So, after the fact, I learned that J still owed my husband the money for the present. I told hubby to just transfer the money from J's bank account to his (hubby's) and be done with it. The fact that J doesn't want to part with his money is one thing, but to only offer 50 cents out of his stash of at least $100 is pathetic. Fifty cents for the Wii offering - not my present. I know that ended up being $25. Hubby made J spend a good amount because I am mom and I have done so much for him.
When we got home from church last night, I was still on J's case and hubby said "Are you going to lay off him now?" I said, "No, because for some reason he is being very selfish and unwilling to part with his money. He won't even pay you back for my birthday present!" And at that, hubby agreed with my point of view about the offering. J had gone to put on jammies and went into the bathroom. I was walking down the hall when he came out of the bathroom, and he just walked right past me without saying a word, went into his room, closed the door and turned off the light. I said, "Goodnight to you, too."
This morning I was ready for the worst from him and was ready to discuss the issue rationally and without getting angry. Well, he was in a great mood and either forgot about the whole topic entirely or just didn't care. He gave me a hug and started talking about the weather. Fine. I am actually relieved. However, I know it'll come up again and we'll have to talk about why he only wanted to offer 50 cents towards a Wii. I actually want to e-mail the youth pastor to find out exactly what the holiday party activities will be and who these "old people" are. Maybe he can enlighten me.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The hiding place
Keeping stuff off K's floor didn't last long. That little guy thought he had all the answers. He was putting things on the floor between his bed and the wall where he thought no one would look. This morning, my husband went into that bedroom to check out how clean (or messy) it was, and he noticed a bunch of stuff between the bed and the wall. There is about a 12" x 5' area between the bed and the wall. Here is what hubby found:
last week's homework, not turned in
several pieces of Knex
Bakugon
green marker
knit hat
2 posters rolled up
Ben-10 watch
spy scope
book
pair of dirty socks
dirty underwear
baseball
3 juggling balls
hair clip - actually, K said he "found" it in the classroom. Why he didn't hand it in, I'll never know
a few miscellaneous plastic toys
What I am most pleased about is the Ben-10 watch and the spy scope. These were sources of light for K and he played in his room when he was supposed to be sleeping.
last week's homework, not turned in
several pieces of Knex
Bakugon
green marker
knit hat
2 posters rolled up
Ben-10 watch
spy scope
book
pair of dirty socks
dirty underwear
baseball
3 juggling balls
hair clip - actually, K said he "found" it in the classroom. Why he didn't hand it in, I'll never know
a few miscellaneous plastic toys
What I am most pleased about is the Ben-10 watch and the spy scope. These were sources of light for K and he played in his room when he was supposed to be sleeping.
Monday, October 5, 2009
The pup dog
No, we don't have puppies but we do have dogs. One has gone off to the vet today as she has a lump on her side. She's also quite the fatty. I look at this picture of her (she's 7) and it looks like she's laughing. Anyway, she's had a lump on her side for a while now and it has grown in size. It started out the size of a dime and now it is like a small potato. Time to do something about it! It doesn't seem to bother the doggy, but it bothers us to look at it. I hope she's ok!
This is Shelby. Shelby Girl, the Mustang Mama. She follows me wherever I go. She's my shadow. If one of the kids is looking for her I'll hear, "Where is Shelby?" The other child will say, "She's with mom." (smile)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
