JonesSoda , 26

My SD is homeschooled (as usual I am using that term loosely because she isn't on a program and I don't think she does much at her mother's house). When she is here, she has to read 20 pages a day from a book and write a 2 page story. For awhile she was using her 2 pages to write a one-page story and a one-page letter to her dad. Or she wrote a one-page letter to each of us. The letters had about 3 words per line, written huge, and said things like she is "so so so so so so so (x100)" excited for the baby to come. But all she was writing was so over and over. She is 10, she will be 11 in November. I think she should be doing more than that and is capable of more than that. Especially since her mother is SUPPOSEDLY going to start her in public school this year (we will believe this when we see it). She needs to be working up to par, or at least exercise her abilities a little so she is capable of it. I told her on Sunday (the day I have all of the kids the whole day by myself, and the first day that she is here that she does homework) that from now on she has to write a 2 page story again, and she can write to her dad or me if she wants to but that will not be part of her homework. I think she wasn't using her mind enough, and was abusing the priviledge.

She did her homework Sunday, and Monday.

Today she was doing it and her dad was right next to her. She turns to him and says, "Daddy, tell me what my rules are for homework for writing." I said, "Alena, he knows what your rules are." She said, "Tell me what my assignments are, Daddy, and tell me what the rules are." I said, "He knows you have to read 20 pages a day, and write a 2 page story, and he knows that you can't write letters anymore." She said "oh" and then did her homework.

She was trying to get me in trouble! She was trying to set up a fight! At first it was almost amusing because it didn't work and she was trying so hard. I was on my way out the door and didn't put much thought into it. But then the whole time I was grocery shopping it was all I could think about. I was so offended! My husband and I did not disagree or argue once this weekend because he is trying a lot harder to be fair. But she was trying to set us up! I am so upset. In the past this would have started a fight.

BUT, what really upsets me, is when I was on the way home, I didn't even want to go home. To my own house. Who knows what she was going to try then? It might sound trivial but she does this stuff all the time, until it works. I didn't even want to see her face.

DH and I brought the groceries in, then in another room in private I told him that what she'd tried to do really upset me. He said that "next time" he will talk to her about it. That hurts me even more. Shouldn't the message ALWAYS be clear that it's not okay? Not just NEXT TIME?! Should there BE a next time?!

This comes after he did not take her to counseling this week. His excuse for the last few weeks has been that we do not have our car inspected and he doesn't want to get pulled over. Yet he drives it places he wants to be, like Frisbee golf.

I don't think he understands how much this all really hurts me and how hard I am trying. I watch them on Sunday out of faith that things won't turn around and bite me in the ass and here she is two days later trying to dredge up what I said on Sunday to use it against me and start issues. I am doing everyone a favor by helping so much, not to mention she's lucky someone even cares about her education. And to have DH blow it off just because it doesn't hurt him doesn't make me feel very important. I don't think she should be allowed to behave this way, I would never let my kids hurt my spouse like that and I don't think he should either.

Sam sent Ethan a nice outfit that Robbie had and didn't get much use out of. It's a great 2 pc Spongebob outfit. It's about 80 degrees here today and Ethan put on the zip up jacket and lined pants until I finally made him take them off LOL

Thank you, Sam! Boy, these kids are being spoiled a lot lately by their Kiwi-aunties lol

It's so hot out today!

I sent the kids out to play for awhile (minus Aidan and Julian- Aidan has hives and I didn't want to aggravate them by putting sunscreen on him so I kept him in) and they are inside now. Aidan's dad came and got him so he is gone for a couple days- Ethan and Liam are in the tub. I ran them a nice cool bath and threw in a bunch of toys, they are having fun and they can play there as long as they want as long as they are good! I figure it's like an indoor pool [:)] Before they get out I will wash them down. I was going to bake chicken for dinner but it is almost 90 degrees, I think we will have cereal or sandwiches tonight. I don't feel much like dealing with extra heat in the house, to be honest.

Ethan went to stay with his dad's mom and her husband last night, he had fun but he is acting a bit loud and getting frustrated easily so I think he got to stay up a little bit later than I would do. He's been on a schedule since like 3 mos old LOL so he gets thrown off easily.

I've been putting some songs on my iPod today, and I made this signature in Photoshop:



Not much else is going on. Julian walked some more today, about ten steps, and still sideways! He's so silly. He has been climbing all over the couch, too. I think one is so much harder than any other age I have dealt with so far, you can't turn your back for a second.

Heather sent a box of wonderful goodies for me, the boys, and the new baby :) She sent some clothes, socks, and a stuffed animal for Audrey, some great books for the boys and bath fizz to change the color of the water (which they will be fascinated with!) and nursing pads and a Healing Garden gift set for me. Isn't that so sweet? Thank you, Heather!!!

As you may know, Julian took a couple steps a few weeks ago and hasn't really done much since then. Ethan was mad at him just now for messing with the TV and moved the Bounce and Spin Zebra that he was using to hold himself up with and Julian stood there for a second looking down at his feet in wonder that he was standing alone, then side-stepped about five or six steps toward me. Then he did it again a few minutes later! I will try to get it on video, it's pretty cute [:)]