Blue Monday

Hello, all 4 of you!  Or was it three?  (Love you, Friends!)

I am still here, and still focusing on solving the problems my kids are facing.  It's on my list.  My list, however, is no small thing.  Let me explain:

Changing jobs.  Well, I hope.  There is a lot of pressure for me to get a different and better job, and to not work on Saturdays anymore.  Ever.  Trying to accomplish that.

Changing homes.  Another hope, but more realistic now that we have a realtor.  We have been painting and packing and making this house very, very NOT my home anymore - with no future location yet in sight.  I might be a little stressed out about that.  My dishes.  My books.  They are mostly in boxes.  Or they are on the table waiting to be.  So very upsetting.

Changing schools!  This is a pipe dream in my mind.  Since we have found no house, we have no school district to research.  So I will have to look into all the districts we are considering to find which one suits us best.  But can it PLEASE wait until after Christmas?

Christmas.  The good and the bad.  The Ho, Ho, Ho and the Bah, Humbug.  It is approaching at top speed, like an avalanche.  My Brother arrives the 21st.

Anyway, back to the problem at hand:

Grant has been doing much better at school.  Abbie has had a substitute, so it is hard to determine.  She hasn't been kicked off the buss, though!  Although, to be honest, there has been a substitute there, too...

Anyway, I am at the part in the book where they explain what needs to be done.  It is one of those Revamp Your Life, Family and Parenting Style kind of solutions.  As I feared, some of it I am already doing, and some of it I could predict.  A main point is to find out what sends us off the deep end as parents (no advice once we know.  I think we're meant to suck it up) and not become emotional when parenting.  Then, find out what sends the kid off the deep end, and try to teach him/her what it feels like to be starting the Mt. Vesuvius process, so he or she can respond when you say the code word that means, "Hey, you are about to explode.  Don't."

Also, there are lots of checklists and surveys that the whole family is supposed to fill out.  Family meetings are involved.  Not easy for a mom who was trying to solve the problem without putting it in the spotlight.  I've been thinking about it, and I intend to use the move as the alleged motivation for a change.  New house.  New rules and stuff.

Wow.  Is that the time?  I have to go buy Josh's Christmas presents and pay bills.  And pack more of my beautiful china away.

Wishing you good health, happiness and clear road conditions!