For Their Own Good

I have unconditional love for my children.

I have expectations for my kids so they have expectations for themselves.

I have rules for my children so they have boundaries.

I have consequences for my children when they go outside the boundaries so they understand that actions have consequences AND consideration and respect (for themselves and others) is important.

I love my children enough to do these things. I am their parent, not their best friend. If I raise them right, one day when they are adults, maybe we will be best friends too.

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Summer Clothes Shock

Today I went into a store to try on some shorts. I was disgusted at what I saw in the mirror. Even with the bad lighting and white skin from winter, it really put into perspective how much weight I've gained. I put the shorts back on the rack.

After that store, we went to the pharmacy. I have to admit that I lingered by the appetite suppressant for a minute. I don't eat a lot though. I think it is: 1) what I eat, and 2) my thyroid disease. I also need to be more active than I am to counteract my slow metabolism from being hypothyroid.

Boy do I long for the day when I could eat whatever I wanted and still be a size 2/4.

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The Ex is Kissing Up Again

Spring Break is around the corner and the ex knows that my in-laws will be coming into town soon when the kids are here. It's time for her to pretend she's cooperative and accommodating with my husband for the annual show she puts on.

She e-mailed some pictures of the kids to my husband, his parents, and his sisters all in the same e-mail. She wants them to see how GREAT she is about communicating with dad. Except the pictures were reduced to the size of thumbnails (or less) so we couldn't even see them. The originals weren't that small (won't say how I know that but I do...have to take my evil stepmom word for it, lol).

Of course, they don't know that she's not updating him on what is going on with my stepson at school unless he calls and begs for the information. They don't know that she doesn't make my stepson do his homework or study and that he's come close to failing the last three years. They also don't know that she hasn't updated dad on the latest meeting (two days ago) with the school when she met with the teachers, counselor, and school psychologist to get my stepson on a 504 plan to address his low grades. She's waiting for him to call and beg her for the information. If she e-mails it, I might see it. *gasp* Can't have that now!! Never mind that I was the one taking him to all his child psychologist, occupational therapy and speech therapy appointments several years ago (which she did not attend once). Instead of her just making sure he does his homework every night or studies for tests when he has them, which she doesn't do either, it's easier for her to get a school plan in place to accommodate for her lack of parenting and refusal to give consequences to the boy. Must suck to be the mother of an all A student who has been close to failing (just because he can) for the last three years because she can't parent.

Oh yeah, instead of my husband having to call and beg her for the information, he (through me, lol) just requested they send copies of any and all information from the meeting to him which they said they'd be happy to do ASAP. That will be the day when my husband has to chase that woman (and I am really refraining of putting the word down that really describes her) down and beg for information on his own child. She plays stupid games.

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Wishing for a Family Vacation

I wish we could have afforded a family vacation to the mountains this spring break when my stepkids are here in a week. I told myself I'd never do one again after my stepson's horrendous behavior during our last trip to the mountains with them but I guess I'm a glutton for punishment (and hoping it'll make a difference to them). I keep saying I am going to give up but then I never do with trying to reach my stepkids. Definitely a glutton for punishment I guess.

My husband mentioned a cruise, but that's not something I'd bring the kids on (or myself since I get seasick, lol). I've seen pictures of a cruise a friend took in Alaska. It was very beautiful!

We can't afford it this year (again) so it's not happening anyway.

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Making Easter Baskets

This year, I decided to be a tiny bit creative and do something different over the "norm" of Easter baskets for the kids. With six kids, why would I want to do spend a bunch of time doing that? Well, because my stepson just tossed his basket aside (with different sports toys, lots of candy, etc.) aside last year (after he devoured all the candy) like it meant nothing to him (it most likely did but still). He left it here when he left on the floor of the boy's room. I thought I'd find something that had to mean something to each child and make it reusable.

Instead of Easter baskets, I bought tote bags. I am going to embellish them with different things (depends on which child and what means the most to them). Here's what I'm doing:

• For my stepdaughter and oldest daughter, I have a "green" bag. It's not technically green but it will be about peace, earth-friendly, etc. because my daughter is huge on environmental issues and my stepdaughter is a vegetarian. In addition to candy, there will be a book in each one (teen vegetarian cookbook for my stepdaughter and a Harry Potter book for my oldest daughter who just recently started the series and is becoming a huge reader - - like her momma!). I am going to also add their name and bling it up a little bit.
• For my stepson, I am going to make his all "rock guitar" because he inherited great musical ability on the guitar from his dad. I figured he could use it to carry his music back and forth to his lessons. Besides candy, I bought him a rock music book so he can learn some new rock songs with his dad while he's here for spring break.
• For my son, I am going to do a rock bag for him too but use drum graphics instead. His book is one of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books he loves them.
• My middle and youngest daughter will have a bling-bling bag because they're both really girly. My middle daughter's bag will include a book with different stories about High School Musical (one of her favs) and I haven't bought the book for my three-year-old yet.

A lot of work. If I do all this work, only to have my stepson toss it aside again (or thank his dad and ignore me), then I'll deal with that if (or when) it happens. After 13 years, any appreciation probably isn't going to happen given how he's been taught to treat me but I'm hoping it will mean something on the inside where he can keep it hidden from his mother? Probably not, but who knows. I won't know until they're 18 and out from under alienating momma but we'll see.

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