The uphill climb of parenthood

I apologize for not blogging much this week. To be honest, I have had thick, itchy fingers, and have had a grumpy, rude 14 yr old to contend with. Both these things have sucked out much of my newly returning energies. After several doses of grog-inducing antihistamines, and a long, gut-wrenching family meeting last night, I am a bit better, but feeling very tired and worn out. Why oh why did no one tell me about the similarities between children at 2 and 3 years and the same children at 13 to 14 years old. Whew!! Demanding and beligerent, pushing me away one minute, and clingy and full of I-love-you's the next! As Dy would say, Gaaaahhhh!

This morning's chore ritual went much smoother, thankfully, than it has for weeks. We now no longer have seperate chore lists, but instead, all three of us pitch in and do the chores off of one list until they are done, and as they are needed. We have been working towards this for awhile, and it is time. We realize we can not coerce them into being the responsible, kind, and caring people we want them to be, we just hope they choose it. Cooperation works so much better.

The Boy has his birthday party tomorrow, and he is now fully responsible for it. We were very close to taking it away completely, but chose this action instead. I will be taking him shopping after classes today during which time he will use his own money to purchase the remaining items for the party. Then he will come home, rearrange the living room, thoroughly vaccuum and dust it, and then get the games and contests for the party ready. I will most likely have him make his own cake, too, though I might relent on that front. I know parenting isn't easy, but sometimes it is downright difficult. Hard. Challenging. Not fun. Poopy. Sigh.

As well as errand running and birthday party prep, I have my physical therapy today. It really hurt last week, and I am going to have to be an advocate for myself this week- no country music during the massage, thank you very much. And could we please start the massage with me on my stomach, so that if you are going to work on my back, that you are not doing it from the underside of my body? Very uncomfortable, and not nearly as effective. Sigh. I am feeling very small (another Dy-ism) today, and so wish I could crawl into bed and stay there.

Now I shall paste on my happy face, go upstairs, and get on with the day. Wish me luck, and a calm peaceful feeling inside me.
TTFN,
LB