Good Morning!
5 Days!!!! 🙂
Today’s header photo is from Kare.
*It’s now Sunday the 21st, so I believe someone has a birthday today.
Happy Birthday Linda. 🙂
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On this day in 1790 the first successful cotton mill in the United States began operating at Pawtucket, RI.
In 1860 South Carolina became the first state to secede from the American Union.
In 1879 Thomas A. Edison privately demonstrated his incandescent light at Menlo Park, NJ.
And in 1968 author John Steinbeck died at the age of 66.
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Quote of the Day
“Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.”
Dale Evans
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This one is a request.
And this one is because I like it. From King’s College Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0aL9rKJPr4&feature=player_detailpage ______________________________________________
Wandering Views 
I plan on going to the weight room later today with a friend who just returned for a month. Not sure how much to do since I injured myself the last time.
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Go easy, Jo, light work. It will do the job without forcing you to stop for weeks to heal.
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Kizzie, yes. That is why we try to work with the school and the sheriff dept to keep them apprised of the issues. But, of course, the children are so nice and pleasant and social, it is difficult to see until you have worked with them for a while. Then you start to notice things and then adding them up. People want the best from each other.
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I was very careful. Only lifted one 1 kilo weight and just did 10 reps. Other than that I did a mile on the elliptical and did 20 situps. No weights really.
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The evening service was a hymn sing tonight, so I thought that I would go. However my car had other ideas as it wouldn’t start. Pretty obvious that it was the battery. I will probably buy a new one tomorrow.
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This week is our last letter – Qq
Have to remember to take in a quilt.
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Sounds like grandson’s dad will be coming this weekend, staying a few days, then taking baby home on Thursday. That will be good.
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It will be nice to get to know him, meet him. Seems to be a good guy.
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Made it through crazy Thursday. My class had PE and library after lunch. When I went to pick them up in the library they were doing great, but the workers were gone. Huh! I spent all morning not even going to the bathroom so as not to leave my class alone and then I found them alone in the library.
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so nice to get up later today and go to the market later. My vegetables are soaking in bleach water and it is time to fix some breakfast.
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did I mention that several depressed folks have been asked to leave and get help? They need help and it is a good decision, but hard.
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Depression seems to hit everywhere.
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Lots of rain today Too bad seventeen did not bring her laundry in off the line. Well, it should be well rinsed.
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Looking forward to meeting new son in law on Saturday. And turning his son over to him.
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It seems like the little one just got there. But I am sure it has been a long time for you.
Maybe this was practice for the next little one coming your way. So glad that you finally got her to the doctors.
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okay, I just booked a trip to Cairns for over the break. It was getting very tricky. They didn’t have any room on the flights on the days that I wanted to travel. so I kept looking and looking. Then emailed to ask if there was room at the missionary hotel in Cairns. They had room, but I will have to switch to a two bedroom place for the last two days. Not quite as cheap but the exchange rate is good and this place is cheap.
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We are a bit concerned that he is going home so quickly but he does belong with them. He is actually the least of my challenges here. A very happy easy going baby for the most part.
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Nice that they have facilities like that available to the missionaries for a bit of respite.
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Husband left last night to go pick up son in law. They should be back this evening and we will be done with most of our part as we hand him back to daddy. That will be good to see.
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how did chas manage to get an anonymous post up that included his picture???
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That baby has certainly done some traveling. I hope you took lots of pictures, because it is doubtful that he will remember this trip.
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Must have been nice to hold and cuddle a baby again. When The Boy was a baby, I couldn’t get enough of him.
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He is still a cuddler.
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It was, and he is on his way again. He did not cuddle much but loves to sit next to his person. Really wants to be standing up and running.
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Baby has been on the road or in the skies for close to twenty four hours now. Another six hours until he lands and then off to the house.
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Baby is sleeping a lot. Could he be tired from his many travel hours?
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what an adventure for that little boy. you are a part of his life now.
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wow, this doing two miles in a half hour on the elliptical really wears me out. I don’t do any resistance, so it is just keeping my legs moving for 30 minutes. I sure need a shower afterwards.
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so funny to be talking to my self on here as the emails come to me.
how are you doing, Mumsee. Have things settled down there at all? I think you said something about more family coming?
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Hi Jo, I have been getting out for my morning walk as the bike no longer seems to fit the schedule. By getting up between four and five, I have time to walk for about thirty to forty minutes, it is a start and a very nice one at that. Such a beautiful area and such a beautiful time of day.
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Yes, more family arriving today. Daughter and son in law and two grands coming up from Boise. Two year old and one year old. Should be fun! They plan to redo the cupboards in the kitchen: painting and adding hardware. I told them I was in no hurry as I still have some quite destructive children to get through but it is a gift from them and we will enjoy it.
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Twenty two year old daughter continues to tell some incredible stories and we continue to not believe any of them, though we no longer mention that to her. It will come. Husband did tell her yesterday that he is not interested in hearing about all the raves she has attended. He reminded her that he has always told them nothing good happens after ten. But he did not ask if she got pregnant at that time.
She continues to work around the place and seems to have a good attitude ever since that one extraordinary evening. Hopefully, she is not doing any illegal activity. She only leaves home in our care but if she had her friend deliver something, we would not know.
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walking is good, but between 4 and 5??? oh, my, goodness. I suppose you go to bed a lot earlier than I do. Those are the times I hope to not see on my clock.
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I usually do a little walking around 5am myself.
(I walk to the bathroom, “go”, and then walk back to bed. 🙂 )
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Ni, I get up then, have a shower, do Bible time and usually get walking about 5:45. But probably not with the family here. That is when they get up with the small ones and daughter is focused on redoing my kitchen for me.
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It has been a busy three weeks. Time to get back on track.
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Mumsee, I was delighted to hear of all that your daughter did to your kitchen. So nice for her to do that for you. I am hoping for help when I move into my home.
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Just laying around resting this afternoon as I came home feeling sick. Also drinking sprite.
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one boy, quite bright and capable, was in a mood today. He would not say anything about what was bothering him. Finally told Wendy that he hadn’t finished his card. for one of the seniors. I understand that, but he was grumpy before then.
I feel like I have nothing left to deal with these behaviors.
Good thing I came home early and let Wendy finish the day.
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Sorry to hear of your struggles. It is not easy dealing with that when you are not feeling well. It can be challenging enough when you are on top of your game.
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Today was much better, plenty of smiles. I did get sick again yesterday afternoon, but am okay now. Two of my girls called moms to go home early. I think they were just doing it cuz they could. I didn’t see any signs of sickness at all.
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Would this be another 49!! Quite a few on this thread.
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Mumsee, you would be proud of me for keeping my mouth shut today. I have the vice principals daughter in my class. She needs to stay back. The parents have decided and I cannot say a word. Today I assessed her in reading, the assessment we have to do on everyone. She was at a level one, very low. She essentially read what she wanted it to say and ignored the other words. She did know part of it, but is too young to focus and work at it. I showed mom the assessment and told her about it. We don’t normally do that, but since it was going to show her as below grade level, I wanted to show her what the girl did. Then she asked me to give her suggestions as to what to do over break. Let her grow up….
Another year would make all the difference.
oh, well….
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Well, that would be awkward! You can only do what you can do. People can only hear what they are willing to hear. Most of us want our children to at least be in the top ten percent. But that just might mean holding back for a year. I was told to hold back the oldest, until they told me to put him in talented and gifted. It all worked out eventually. Maybe they will be able to help her at least be able to focus a bit by next school year. Or maybe they will realize after thinking about the results.
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I spoke to the principal today about another girl. She is Dutch. She only knows her numbers to eleven. She has learned to decode, but doesn’t know sight words. Another year would make all the difference for her.
At least the one Dutch boy is staying back.
I keep telling myself they are not my kids. God gave them to their parents, not me.
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That’s too bad, Jo, that the parents can’t see how their children could benefit by another year in kinder. The Boy repeated kindergarten, and is doing great now. (He’s in 2nd grade now.)
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Haven’t gotten a 61 in a while.
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Maybe it’s time to try for it again.
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And help us keep on (or get back to) the Top Posts.
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Of course, I could be accused of talking to myself.
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But I do that anyway in real life, so that’s okay with me.
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My MIL talked to herself, so we kept a baby monitor on in her room so we could overhear what she might need.
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Otherwise, she would not tell us what she needed. She would just sit and complain. Kinda funny, but sad, too.
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And this should be a 61!
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Hi Kizzie You must be a nice person to want to talk with you so much.
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I am sitting here watching the twins while eleven fixes their supper. She is frying eggs. She will make grilled egg and cheese sandwiches for the twins and fried eggs with cheese and toast for herself.
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Down to two children today. One is off to work, one never came home last night, and one is off to OUI. Husband will probably see the missing one at coffee but he may just be sleeping in at some friend’s house. Two more months.
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Twins?
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oh, I do not want this number, but I will get us past it
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nice job carrying on over here.
Yes, I don’t remember hearing about any twins??!!
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actually the last number was my high school grad year.
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Perhaps I should explain the twins before somebody gets the wrong idea. Oh, too late. Anyway, we have a rule that Tina cannot talk with the younger two without an adult around due to the content of their conversation and the way she tends to deteriorate afterwards. Melody came by me a couple of days ago while we were outside, and said she was looking for a place she could think without somebody jabbering at her (that would be Tony). So I told her to go lie in the shade near me. When Tony followed a couple of minutes later, I told him to go elsewhere and pointed to the rabbit area so Melody could have a break. I reminded him not to chat with Tina as no adult was over that way. She was past there, clipping weeds. An hour later, Tina came over to sit on a swing and right behind her was Tony. Aha, Tony had been chatting with Tina. So I decided they could spend the rest of the day together. Sitting on the same swing, the same chair, walking the dogs together, feeding the rabbits together, etc. They had a couple of obnoxious words together and tried to involve me so I extended their time through the next day. At that point, Tina suggested not fighting anymore because she did not want to be twins forever. The name stuck. They are not twins today, but they know it could happen.
On a side benefit of the opportunity to share space, Tina became happier. That was nice to see, though the words they shared were not so pleasant to hear. Lots of little boy humor (she is quite good at it) and tlak of evil and zombies and death and such not to mention the usual attack on the uninvolved third person, Melody, by pairing her up with all possible boys they could think of. But we had a peaceful Tina day so I won’t mind going back to having twins if needed.
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Another good day here. Marc did not come home again last night but evidently is fine wherever he is as he contacted Mike about a ride to the eye doctor for his appt today. Bizarre.
Tina is doing well, off on her bike to yoga class. I suspect the ten miles of bike ride are better for her than the hour of yoga class. I suspect she does not come very close o most of the postures.
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Another beautiful day out here. Marc made it home last night after we got to bed and was up and out while I was out doing chores so, though we have not laid eyes on him, we know he still exists. Actually, Mike met him in town and took him to his eye doc appt. Sounds like he is wanting to go to the Youth Challenge, which is good because the school really does not want him back. Too much effort goes into him and not enough comes out.
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Is Youth Challenge a Christian program (like Teen Challenge)?
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Two of my friend Ruthie’s daughters (she has five, and one son) are close in age, and for many years were about the same size, as well as resembling each other quite a bit. So they were often referred to as “the twins.”
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Youth Challenge is for drop outs and resistant scholars. The one around here is staffed with Christians. In fact, the head guy was the youth group leader when I was attending the Presbyterian church in Moscow, in high school and college. Cares deeply for the youth and loves the Lord. However, they are running a public education facility. The Truth comes through though. He must be close to seventy by now, a life of service to young people.
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No Marc last night. We think he may be working for the same farmer he worked for last year. Probably staying with his girlfriend’s grandparents, but we don’t know. Did I mention it is against the law in Idaho to harbor a runaway? That means allowing an underage person stay at your home without informing the parents. It can result in a large fine and loss of your automobile if you drive them anywhere. But we are not pursuing it at this time.
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I have a photo of my brother and me. We are wearing cut offs, red and white striped T shirts, and had the same haircut. My children can not tell us apart. I think we were about nine and ten.
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Howdy friends.
We have a new principal. She came by my room this afternoon as I was seeing my kids off. She said that are talking through some ideas. One of the ideas was to have kinder stay later on Tuesdays and Thursdays and let them have some special classes. We already have full days after Christmas. These young ones do not need longer days during term 1. The only reason would be to let their moms work more and that is not a good reason.
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after talking to her, I was trying to get my thoughts together so I spoke to my aide, Wendy. She just grimaced and we both agreed it was not a good idea. They have preschool for two days a week and then have kinder five days a week. That is enough of a change. Anything else would not be good.
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Of course the vice principal has a daughter in my class this year (who really needs another year to mature) and the principal will have a daughter in my class next year.
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Please pray for good communication because this is a very bad idea. We need to do what is right for the children not for parents working.
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okay, rant over, for now
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It does seem that a lot of what is put on children in school is not about the children. A lot of the classes they take are not about the basic education many of them need. It has to be frustrating to the teachers who see the problem.
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I am glad our school people finally opened their eyes about son, but too little too late. Hopefully, the youth challenge can at least get him a diploma, but they will be working on character as well. Lots of believers working there.
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So this morning the vice principal talked to me about this new idea. I told her my thoughts that it was a bad idea, but we could do it term 2. She is very strong willed, not sure that she listened. Her daughter began school last year in north Carolina and it was all day from the beginning, which does not make it a good idea.
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I am feeling like God put me here to battle for the kids.
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Finally got an email today from my property managers. They wanted the money to pay the repair bills. The bills that I emailed them about a month ago. This gal said that she had been calling the number in my file! Well the number she gave is the missions house where I will be next year. Whoops, I didn’t answer.
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I am waiting to hear back from her before I send money. I need to see this months statement. What did they charge me to find renters that means there isn’t any money left to pay this bill?
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I haven’t heard from my friend lately, the one who handles everything for me and whom I stay with. I am feeling that I must have hurt her. She was planning on coming to visit, but I said it might just be way too expensive. She was going to come to Cairns and to here.
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It can certainly be complicated trying to do things long distance like that.
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There seem to have been a lot of odd ideas that have filtered into education and forcing children into sitting for school at an earlier and earlier age is one of them. They need to be free to explore their worlds so they will have something to latch the concepts onto as they get into academics.
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At some point over the last couple decades, our school system switched from half-day kindergarten to full-day (as it was for The Boy). I’ve heard some even want to make pre-k a full day. Not a good idea. 😦
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Thursday is the last day of this school year for The Boy. He is really struggling to get through these last few weeks, and this last week – not academically, but emotionally. He wants to be with his mommy. (I seriously wonder if X has told him that he is going to get custody of him, or something similar.)
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Haven’t mentioned this in a while, but even with how challenging he can be, I really love this little boy. He is so precious to me. ❤
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It is possible or he could be being exposed to stuff he is not ready for. Scary things, anger, porn, all sorts of possibilities But God knows and we will pray for His protection and the Truth to come out.
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I seem to have gone down a rabbit hole and stumbled into a strange, very old room …
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eww, what is that over in the corner? Oh hi, didn’t expect to see you here.
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Welcome Dj. Are you going to read the comments back to the last time you posted???!
Oh, and this page is very current, notice the dates on the posts.
Just very long lasting.
Time for school. Three more days.
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I just need to shake some of the dirt off from the rabbit hole … It’s a bit dark in here.
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Would you like a drink? Or something to eat?
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Oh yes. Lemonade and a graham cracker would be nice.
I’ll take off my sunglasses, then I can see better.
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I believe there is something over there on that table….it seems to have a label on it.
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Ok. Is the rabbit home?
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Lemonade with graham crackers? Yuck!
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Milk with graham crackers, yes. Or coffee or tea. But lemonade, no.
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such an entertaining thread.
I made it through another day. We let an air popper throw popcorn into the air. One boy didn’t get any as he got mad and ran home during lunch recess. oh, well..
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Went to the store after school. I am sitting here drinking a La Croix. Never heard of it, but someone said they were good and since they have zero calories, I thought I would try it. You never know what our store might get.
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Praying for some creative ideas to get me through tomorrow. Had a parent conference with the parent of my lowest child. It went well. I began with praise for her progress and then told her the problems. Now she is informed and it is up to them.
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The interesting thing is the vice principal talked to me after school. She would like some work to do with her child over the break. We do the report cards and then they read through them to make sure all of our comments are ok. I tell them to change everything they want to. Anyway after reading about all of my other students, she knew her child needed help. God is good.
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Feeling rather befuddled. I guess my property managers called my friend about the bill they wanted paid. yes, that would be the bill that I paid this morning, though I did it online and it may take a few days to arrive. Without consulting me, I check my email all day long. My friend drove into town to pay the bill. That is one well paid bill. OUCH! Did I mention that it was a large bill. I thanked my friend when she told me, after the fact. Didn’t have the heart to tell her that I already paid it.
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Sounds like things are going to work better for the child, if parents work with her and she is up to learning.
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I ran away from school in about the fifth grade. Went home for lunch and wasn’t planning to go back. My mom made me go back. I survived. I walked, same way I got home.
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The rabbit died. Isn’t that the way it used to be said when a pregnancy was announced? Anyway, as mentioned, grandchild number nine is on the way. What I did not mention is that this is the second child for the family on Okinawa. Post partum depression family. We are keeping it quiet until daughter comes home in July and tells her pregnant sister in person. Does not want to upstage her.
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Interesting day. My friend who paid the bill was coming to visit me, but now realizes how expensive it is. So she is giving me some fun money for my trip.
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then I told the property managers that they needed to lower the reserves as the renters are in now. so that will be another 200 to me. I also thought that they had really messed up this past month so I suggested that they waive their 88 dollar fee. So the gal did both. That will be a help. you see they already charged 450 for the rerental.
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All very complicated. I don’t know how we are doing things but I suspect my sis in law, who lives in Boise and owns several houses she rents out, is managing it for us. Nice renters. She is a teacher and he is in law enforcement. Christians. Two boys about ten and twelve.
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Today we have a doctor appt for twenty two year old and a voc rehab appt for seventeen. I am still trying to arrange for classes and Bible study for twenty two with the pregnancy center.
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My understanding is that twenty three is having a wedding on Saturday. She got married last December. Yesterday, I heard through the grapevine that she wants her younger three sibs to be at the wedding. I am strongly opposed as she has made no effort at all to have contact with them and is simply using them for her purposes. We are not invited so they would be unattended at the wedding. Not good.
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In addition, she wants twenty two to take the pics at her wedding and twenty two agreed to do it, at the family rate which is half what she normally charges. Twenty three agreed but has only paid half. I am suggesting that twenty two not do the pics. It would require husband to delay his trip to Boise for his infusion so he can drive her down and then wait outside until it is over. Photo daughter asked the wedding girl for an itinerary so she would know how long dad would need to wait and so she could bring the right gear for the photos. Wedding girl has not responded. Sounds wise to just not attend. Twenty two has been stiffed before on payments.
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Interestingly, wedding girl and photog girl have had strong disagreements and do not like each other. Drama.
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wow, Mumsee, how do you keep track of all that?? That is a lot of people and relationships. Life is complex.
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I figure I need to be involved with the relationships here. If the others want involvement, they can let me know.
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How is summer break? Are you off to Cairns?
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No word yet on how the wedding went, but daughter was there for four hours without getting kicked out so that is a good sign.
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The wedding went. Apparently, the daughter getting married told everybody that the photographer was not coming so people were surprised to see her there. Another woman brought a camera because she had been asked to fill in. Nor did the couple pay daughter though they hired her and did give her the initial payment and told her a few days ago that they would bring the check to the wedding. As things were closing down, daughter mentioned that she was waiting for her dad to come pick her up. The pastor’s wife quickly told her that he was not allowed in their church. News to us. Most everybody else seemed fine, just the daughter who had asked this daughter to be the photographer was very impolite to the photog. Bizarre, as are most things in my life.
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Mike not allowed in their church? Did she say why? Doesn’t sound like a very Christian thing to say.
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I go to Cairns next Wednesday for a week. I am working on prayer requests for my church. Ribs are not doing too well. Wondering if I should go see the physical therapist, hmmm…
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Kizzie, remember the accusations of a few years ago? She has told people a lot of things that were not accurate, or even close to the truth. Most people don’t actually believe her, since we did the whole police and CPS thing and none of the others corroborated her stories, and because they have spent enough time with her to see how she is. But a few fell for them, though they never spoke to us about them That would be the pastor’s wife, a deacon’s wife, and the mom where she was living. The pastor, deacon, and husband at the place (and elder at the church) all saw through it from the start. So I suspect the ban was just her personal ban.
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Probably would not hurt.
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It must be a horrible feeling to know that someone thinks he’s done a thing like that.
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People believe all sorts of things. Sadly, as with seventeen year old son (or any other liar) being believed just makes it easier to make more outrageous things up.
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Mumsee, your daughter being rude to the sister she “hired” to photograph her wedding, and expecting her dad to wait outside, reminds me of a story . . .
In Chicago I lived for several years on a one-way street that had parking on both sides. One day I came home, with my roommate with me, to find someone double-parked on the left side of the street, not much room to get around her. I think I may have waited a while to allow her to move (she was talking to someone, and she did have room to pull up and into a gap) and then gave a small toot of my horn to alert her someone was waiting for her to move. She turned around and said, “If you can’t get through there, you shouldn’t be allowed to drive!” or something like that. Well, in order to get to my house I had to either wait indefinitely or move on through. Since I had a passenger, I figured I could go through–without her, I wouldn’t have tried to, since I knew I didn’t have much room on the right side and I couldn’t watch that side closely.
A couple of hours later we saw a bunch of little girls outside in fancy dresses and wondered about it. Minutes later, my housemate came running back to my bedroom. “It’s a wedding! And guess who the bride is?!” It was the lady who bit my head off after blocking the street! We both wondered if the groom had any idea what he was getting in for! Brides can be quite stressed on their wedding day, but a bride who is outright rude on her wedding day is a big red flag, in my opinion. (I also know of a groom who bragged several years later about how rude he was to his bride on their wedding day, and I thought she should have walked out right then. Really. The marriage hadn’t yet been consummated, and she was receiving good strong warning about who she would be living with if she chose to stay.)
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It also appears that the daughter getting married had invited her bio family so she was apparently trying to set up a meeting between the younger three and the bios without us to protect them. Quite illegal for them to be around the young ones and could have gotten them into trouble. Fortunately, their car “broke down in Seattle” so they did not go either. I don’t know if there is any truth to that but it would have made things quite challenging, especially if the bios decided they would take the youngers with them.
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Jo, next Wednesday like tomorrow or a week from tomorrow? When does school start again?
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Yikes, Mumsee. So the bios were invited, but the ones who raised her were not, and she had been telling tales on you guys? Doesn’t sound like the best situation, and I’m glad you didn’t send the younger ones.
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Cheryl, we only raised her for four years, the family who took her in for us at seventeen and a half, raised her for five years. We are fine with that. We would not have attended had we been invited.
She was moved out, as you may recall, because she was desperately in love with one of the brothers and was continually doing things (secret trysts, buried letters, hand holding, etc). So when we put a stop to it, as much as we could, she was not pleasant. I became that evil woman and Mike became some sort of predator. Sadly, a woman we had allowed into our home to teach them Boundaries, though we thought her an odd duck, also turned on us. She wrote to son (the object of daughter’s affection) while he was at the youth challenge, totally undermining us. Telling him it was too bad he would have to return to this evil family. I read the letters. We had asked her not to give the daughter his address, but she disregarded that and secretly carried on the relationship for them. That woman has since passed away. I would have liked to have spoken with her to find out what she was thinking. Her husband, however, was incredibly supportive of us.
Anyway, the relationship with us is shut for now. I have no desire to expose the younger children to more of her thoughts, they are already suffering from some of them. I pray for her and for her husband, that she will mature into a lovely woman who is a blessing to all around her and that they will grow in the Lord and His Truth.
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Mumsee, that is so bad on so many levels, and I’m sorry.
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It is just how it works out, Cheryl, nothing to lose sleep over. We are quite pleased with the church we now attend. I continue to discover damage done to the younger two girls, by her words, but that happens in any family. We move forward.
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Something came up yesterday with Tina that reminded me of some longlasting damage she had done. Tina mentioned to her worker and me, that she had not participated in some activity at VBS. She thought it was too young for her, though all the other adults were participating. It reminded me of when I gave her a pretty doll for Christmas after she arrived. I never saw it with her and when I asked about it some time later, she said she had gotten rid of it because her older sister had told her she was too old for it. She was eight years old and developmentally delayed. She would have loved it, knowing her as I do now. Dressing it, feeding it, changing it, making clothes for it, talking with it, strolling it around, putting it to bed. But she has often refused activities because they were too young for her. But she loves playing Chutes and Ladders and Candyland.
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so, Mumsee, did you figure out that my trip is next Wednesday? Getting things done this week. I look at the big picture so I am looking at curriculum for the year and getting the math ready. Oh, that is funny cuz the program is called Ready Math.
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okay, just quiet little prayer request. Might seem silly. I got an email yesterday and today about the refrigerator in my house in California. It needs some repairs and the tenants have their own so what do you want to do. I said just store it in the garage. They say their garage is full, what do you want to do. Obviously they want me to take it to the dump. But the repairs needed are only a new gasket for the door and hinges. I love that frig, it is exactly what I want and I do not want to trash it.
so…. I emailed my friend and my two daughters asking if anyone knew of a place to store it for two years. I realize that they would also have to move it.
It is still new to me because I don’t picture all of the years that renters have used it.
So the prayer is that my sons in law would be willing to do something.
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Praying Jo.
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Me, too, Jo.
Mumsee – That story about Tina not keeping the doll – which she would have loved – made me choke up a bit. So sad. I knew a girl in our old church who got another baby doll for Christmas when she was 11. She was a bit embarrassed to admit it, but said that she still enjoyed playing with dolls, even though she was supposedly too old for that sort of thing.
I’ve mentioned how The Boy has been wanting his mommy more lately. When this first began, one morning he was in the daycare next door before school. (Nightingale takes him there when she is working first shift, and our neighbor, Denise, gets him on the bus with the other children, a little over an hour later.)
Well, the other children had not yet arrived, and Denise said he was looking awkward, so she suggested he go to the playroom and play a little while. Shortly after that, she heard him wailing, and went in to see what was wrong. He was crying that he wanted his mommy.
Denise is great with children, and her daycare kids love her, but she also has a strict, no-nonsense side. So she told him that he was too old to be crying for his mommy. My heart hurt when I heard about that.
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Nobody is too old to cry for their mommy.
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And, yes, Jo, I did figure that out.
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I did not need to take people to VBS this morning as husband is home and he took them in on his way to coffee. He goes in to visit with the old guys. One of whom is our world war ll veteran. Old Joe is being moved soon, he has fallen too many times. His daughter and granddaughter and their families have bought a home in town and will move him in with them. He will still be in town but not within walking distance of church, post office, cofee, etc. Part of his good physical health at his age is due to walking around but he only lives a half block from each of those. I remember him coming out to the tennis courts when we were playing, years ago. He took a few swings with his cane. Now he uses a walker and a four wheel vehicle.
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I don’t know the circumstances that are making the Boy cry for his mommy more, whether he is being abused or bullied in some way. But really it probably isn’t “normal” for an eight-year-old boy to be crying for his mommy when he isn’t injured or something. I’m not saying heartlessness is in order, but the world isn’t necessarily kind to boys who cry too readily. We had a boy at summer camp one year who would be playing soccer with the other boys, and next thing you know he would be off the field and crying. It wasn’t a sign of a healthy boy, and it didn’t help him with his peers.
I fact, I know someone who was going into surgery and crying for his mommy . . . though his wife was sitting beside him and holding his hand. And someone else who had to seek his mom’s permission for him to marry, and comfort her at the thought of “losing” him, though he was close to 40 when he married. So yes, a boy actually can be too old to cry for his mommy, and old enough that he should be pulling away from his mom a bit, and old enough that he should actually be pushing her away a little if she is hovering too much, and I think I would take the crying as a sign that something is wrong and his world doesn’t feel safe. If he were in a two-parent home, he would be at the age where he would be doing more with his dad and he should be beginning to do a lot more with other boys, and fathers and other boys both encourage a bit of independence from mom, hopefully in a healthy way. (Not rebellion, just beginning to grow up. Things like “Mom, I’m old enough to walk from the bus to the house on my own.”)
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I miss my mom sometimes. Probably crying for the missed opportunity because I would like to share things with her. I would have enjoyed getting to know her and she would have enjoyed me as an adult.
Not sure I have seen my dad cry for his mommy, but he cried when my mom was diagnosed with cancer and given six months. He cried when my sister died.
My husband cried when his mom died.
I have seen lots of older men cry in church and elsewhere, just talking about the Grace of God.
It sounds like he does not get much time with his mom and hasn’t. She works a lot and he has school. And it is emotionally hard on children to have to have separate homes for their parents. Doesn’t mean he is being abused, but that is something to be aware of.
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Nightingale is nurturing but not one to coddle her son. When he falls down or gets hurt in some other way, she doesn’t rush to him. She’ll say, “You’re okay” in a no-nonsense kind of voice, and encourage him to get up and carry on.
I mentioned earlier about Denise having a no-nonsense streak. Well, Nightingale has one, too. And she encourages his independence, and for him to learn to do things on his own. She will not be doing his laundry for him when he is grown up, like some moms do.
Since this crying for his mommy has started in the midst of the custody stuff, we wonder if X has told him he will get custody of him. (We have not mentioned to him what is going on.) That is just conjecture, and we realize he may not have said anything of the kind. Nightingale has tried to talk to The Boy, asking casual questions to draw out what might be going on, but so far, he has not mentioned anything out of the ordinary happening.
He is immature for his age. The thought just occurred to me that this could be like what Kim referred to on the daily thread as a growing pain (I think that’s what she said) – that he is about to take a leap in maturity, and this is one last I-don’t-know-what of holding on to the person he loves most.
I had forgotten all about this until in the midst of typing this, but I now remember that often when my girls were about to grow in maturity in some way, there would be a regression first. We wouldn’t know what was going on until the growth came, and then could look back and see what had happened.
Have you ladies seen something like that in your children?
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I have seen growth spurts but not so much a regression, except in babies who tend to sleep more. But, as it is not his norm to be crying, I suspect you are on the right track. Somebody has said something and he is scared. Might be best to just be up front with him and let him know what is going on and what steps you all are taking to ensure his safety and continuity of comfort.
It is possible also that he is starting to exhibit some of the mental illness of his dad. He should be given the tools he needs to combat that. Ideas for how to control his thoughts, etc.
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Nightingale is taking him back to the therapist he saw after X’s attack on her.
Just last night we each reminded him of the need for self-control when he was being impatient about something, telling him that yes, he can control himself and wait.
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I’m not even sure that regression thing happened with both daughters. I think it did, but maybe it was only with Chickadee.
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Kizzie, it all sounds like you all have a good handle on it and yes, the regression before growth sounds like a plausible theory. My own thought is that in many cultures I think it is about seven or eight that boys leave the women-and-children setting and join the men. A boy might start wearing short pants or start getting a masculine haircut. He is old enough to do profitable work, and can be taken out to the fields or taught his father’s trade (or apprenticed out!). Even in western culture, little boys might wear dresses and have long hair, often with curls. But at some point he is no longer his mother’s baby, and he becomes his father’s son. He wants to help his mother as a man and not as a little boy, to be her protector if his father isn’t around, for instance. He senses that he is changing.
Mumsee, my dad has been gone more than 2/3 of my life and I don’t really “remember” him much–his life was part of my childhood, which has been over with for decades. But often since marrying my husband I have wished I could have introduced the two men, and that the three of us can take a walk together. In the last year I lost some people who were very significant in my life, and in no way do I mean to downplay grief.
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As for how much time Nightingale and The Boy have together . . . For a working mom, she often has a good amount of time to be with him. But then again, when she was working a lot of second shifts and he was in school, they were apart the whole of the day. How much time they had together depended on what kind of schedule she was working each week. Sometimes she would have a week with few shifts scheduled, and then a week with a few second shifts along with the first shifts.
I am so glad she will be starting this new schedule soon, which is first shift. She will have to work every other weekend, but is usually home by 4:00 on first shift. But in general, she will have more time with him.
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That should help a lot. A regular schedule is better for everybody.
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Tooth is almost hurting again today. Probably have to go to the dentist today. Sadly, husband missed a cue from the insurance folk. We have military insurance, but dental is separate from medical and they switched providers a few months ago. Mike missed the message but when he figured it out, he contacted them. Seems he missed the window which does not open again until November. So, out of pocket. Atomic fireballs. No more.
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How is your tooth doing, Mumsee?
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Much better, thank you, nothing a bit of warm salt water, clove oil, and ibuprofen doesn’t help. Still may need to go in for it.
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Jo off to Cairns now?
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Not much happening in this room lately.
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We all must be busy in our real lives. or is this our real life?
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Well, Jo is probably busy enjoying her vacation. Shopping, touring, you know, what people do when they are away from home for a bit.
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Kizzie is busy cleaning upstairs.
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Cheryl is off taking pictures of nature somewhere.
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Six is probably off being musical
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Little brother is probably lost in the pages of history.
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And our other occasional visitors are probably off in more interesting pursuits. If there are any.
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What could be more interesting than keeping up with this thread?
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I cannot imagine. Though I was just off watching some Nez Perce language videos as I am waiting for a couple of people to finish their math work.
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thanks for keeping the thread up. I am hoping to get a perm while I am here. The ones who cut our hair are all gone now.
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Also hoping for a sunny day so I can take a boat out to an island. Friends gave me funds to have some fun!
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Wonderful folks back home are planning to move my frig and put it in storage today. So grateful and it won’t be easy. The back door is so narrow that you have to take the doors off the frig.
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Husband is off to his infusion.
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Sister in law already has renters for the house though current renters will not be out until August.
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Checking in here
Skyped with my friend. We may find another property manager. And she will see if we can take down some trees
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I got a new skirt yesterday. I tried it on and it worked okay, but it was 79 aud down from 99. There is a 30% savings from the current exchange rate, but still too much. There were lots of sales so I asked the gal if that was the price. She said, on, no and showed me that it was down to 24 aud and then with the exchange rate it is 30%less than that. So, I got it.
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We took daughter thrift shop shopping the other day. She bought some maternity pants. She says they are too loose in the waist. I told her she would grow.
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Keep in mind, daughter is shorter than me, weighs ten pounds more than me, I wear size 16 comfortably, and she claims to be a size eight at largest.
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Hi, secret roomers. Yep, I was probably off being musical some of the time I was away from here — or maybe just thought I was being musical. 😉
Off to give a piano lesson in ten minutes, to the girl who started in April. She’s doing a nice job, and is fun to teach.
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Back to real life soon, Jo?
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Nice to be home again. Met a new teacher in the MAF hangar in Moresby and another returning teacher. Two planes full of folks. Our aviation department is working hard. There was a returning pilot too. That was the only day that I could return as all of the flights are full. But it was a good break and time enough. My freezer is full of cheese! I even brought back one can of artichoke hearts. Such a treat.
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It is good to get home after a pleasant vacation. Glad you could have the break.
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hmmm…. must be that time of day when you are all sleeping.
Well my Colorado family is visiting in Grass Valley and I hear that the Portland family will be coming tomorrow. So all of the children and grandchildren will be together. Just not me.
Next year. Pray that I will have good connections with my grandchildren.
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Jo, it’s lovely that they can all get together. And yes, next year for you.
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Fun time for all. And I do understand the missing the gathering part. My family reunion is this summer. Every three years for the past fifty seven years. And I will miss it though I am encouraging husband to go. Three of our bio children and their families will be there, he would enjoy a nice week long visit with them, and all the cousins. All the first generation has passed away but my dad and he is unable to go.
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Headache today. I forgot to take something before mowing. Oops.
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Twenty one year old has eleven year old out riding the horse. Hope it gets her back to riding. She had pretty much given it up, I think.
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We took a peek into twenty two’s room yesterday. I had noticed a funky smell coming from in there. I wanted another nose opinion.
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Other than that, a beautiful day on the prairie.
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All settled back in, Jo? I am enjoying listening to daughter talk of her growing enjoyment of island life. That is good to hear. She does not enjoy the humidity but they have been out hiking and seen some waterfalls and such, enjoying the local wonders.
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I typed several incredibly interesting posts, but they are lost. Probably show up later though.
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Well, I guess they were not all that interesting.
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I got a nice response in the mail today, to a letter I sent to President and Mrs Trump. That was fun.
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6,793!
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ummm… Aj your post is not too articulate.
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Wow, Mumsee, you are really keeping up a conversation with yourself.
Do you answer yourself too?
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Took a walk around the block this evening. Met one friend at the beginning, coming from someone’s house where she had gotten a pair of shoes. Then at the end I almost stopped at the same friends home to pick up some dishes that I had given her last night with the leftovers. But, when I looked down the street, there she was coming from my house with the dishes in her hands!
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She told me how much she was enjoying the tortilla chips that I had given her last night. I had a dozen, thick tortillas that had been in my freezer for a year. I let them thaw and then baked them in the oven after cutting them into triangles. They turned out great.
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I will leave some room here for Kizzie to open a new room and decorate it for us.
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Why, thank you, Jo!
So, we are about to hit 7000 comments. We rock!
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And this one should do it. . .
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Or maybe this one?
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Well, I guess I am ahead of the game in declaring we are about to hit 7000. We still have a couple hundred to go. Piece of cake!
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Jo – You asked Mumsee if she answers herself, too. When I am talking to myself, which I do a lot, I do often answer myself, and sometimes have an argument with myself. I even tell myself to shut up sometimes. 😀
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Well, I like what you have done with the place!
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Looks pretty bare to me. Minimalistic?
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I prefer that. Downsizing and all.
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She actually has some nice pictures at the top and the lower right.
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