Life is crazy but got to remember we are still blessed!

So over the last two weeks I have been on an emotional roller coaster.  Having 6 kids will do that but its been more of a challenge to be a parent of a 18 year old graduate from High School and still no stability yet.  I will hold nothing back....so forgive my dear Kevin if you ever read this!  Kevin has been a pretty good kid.  Never gave me much trouble at all.  I never had to worry about him that much he communicated with me more then most his age and he was very active in Boy Scouts (earning his Eagle at 15) and was a part of the ROTC and was in the High School Marching Band along with being in the YOUTH CRIME WATCH in the high school.  Was his grades straight A's.......nope but he did go from 6th grade-11th day without missing a day of school.  So as far as from a parents view...I was blessed with a good kid considering what I see and hear about boys his age.

This brings me to a few days before he actually graduated....we butted heads and pretty much he left my house right after commencement and went a few days from hearing from him.  They wee make up he says he will change his ways.  I saw him trying but something still was not right.  Within 6 weeks we butt heads again and he left the house yet again.  Now this is 2x in 2 months.....a slap in the face to me.  Would it have been easier to struggle with him during his 4 years in High School or was he just making up for it now? 

He did manage to work the 2 jobs during the summer and in talks with a recruiter from the Air Force.  He needed to loose about 20 pounds and that shocked me cause he was not even the heavy but a rule is a rule.  He also kept missing the score he needed to enlist by 2 points so he still had lots of work to do.

Getting his license on his 18th Birthday in March he was not driving long.  We decided to let him but the truck from us for $3500 and we still owed almost $6,000 on it so he was making out.  Kevin was good kid however he has some downfalls....no value of time and always in a hurry.  I noticed dents on the truck and my Mark would give him an earful....one day in July my husband witnessed him speeding down our street so we gave him warning.  Well within a few days what happen......yup...speeding ticket! 

Ok fast forward to 6 weeks later....I get that phone call at 11 pm.....on the other end I hear MOM I had an accident....its pretty bad.  OK the mother in me wanted to make sure everybody was OK but I couldn't get those words out.....the angry mother in me said whose fault was it?????  I knew it was going to be his...I just knew it...and I knew he couldn't have been that hurt if he was talking to me.  So yes he made an illegal turn and a car came through intersection and hit him.  $7000 worth of damage to the truck. 

To make things worse our insurance CO is giving us a hard time..still not looking that good in our favor but that's a whole other story.

Well I hope this opened up his eyes.  He did mange to go talk to a Navy recruiter and see what they can offer and he goes the first week in November to gat a physical and such and if everything goes well he gets to enlist that day.  I think that is what he needs!  He will get a new start to his adult life!

 I am thankful nobody was hurt and this could have been a blessing in some disguise???

Blessings

Debbie

6 months.....time sure does fly!

Today my little guy turned 6 months old.  This time has sure gone fast.  I don't remember it going this fast with my other babies.  Maybe its cause I am trying to slow this process down knowing how fast they actually grow up.  I am so blessed with such a happy baby.  I know I am the mom and I will brag on him but he really is...always smiling.....and I don't understand why....in this crazy house of mine.  I am thinking he is going to make up for it when is about 2 and mom and dad have a hard time keeping up with him.

I just got done working 6 days straight...and I am whooped!  I had to do some bailing out of my own for the store.  Same scenario next week to.  Money is nice and so close to Christmas also.  Thank goodness I have a supporting husband and some awesome kids who step up to the plate and also accept the flaws of a working mom! 

I hope everyone out there in cyber world has an awesome weekend!

Debbie

Manners

Good manners are just a way of showing other people that we have respect for them.  ~Bill Kelly

Having 6 kids and being in all kind of activities, I have seen a lot of things that make my head spin.  Also having 18 years and counting  under my belt gives me much experience in this department and over the years it seems to make my head spin more and more.  I hear so much complaints these days about how kids act.  They are not like they used to be years ago.... I hear over and over from people of all ages.  I just wander though, do these people realize they are the adults who mold these young kids?  Kids learn through parents and other family members they are around.  Also when out in public, they see how adults act and they will be molded for life by being exposed to adults in their presence.  Can it be a good affect on young kids.....absolutely!!!!  Can it be a negative affect....you bet! 

Just a few weeks ago at the kids open house I remember sitting there all alone (my quiet time) and watching the people pile in.  I got there super early knowing parking is horrible and it does feel up...one perk from this being my 13th open house in a row at the same school.  At y first open house I did not know anybody..I was the newbie and yes there were cliques.  Some tend to ignore you but some would say Hello and make small talk.  As those years went by I made friends and we would say hello and still have the small talk at these type of gatherings.  Fast Forward 12 years and it does not seem like that.  Yes there are still cliques but they seem more of a mean clique and there was no small talk among other parents.  I watched very carefully.  Parents seem to be different now. 

So the meeting starts and even though they tell you to keep your kids at home nobody follows the rules...ok not even me....we live in walking distance so my kids wanted to come and play at the playground...well just 2 of them.  Since I brought my kids though I know the rules....well at least the rules I make for them.  You sit with me quietly until the administration is done talking and dismisses us.  Then as I go up to the classroom the kids may go and play with their friends outside the building.  Does that happen....NOPE.  The Principal had to ask for attention many times and it really was not even the kids...it was the adults....adults that should know how to use manners.  The parents kepts talking during the whole thing and letting their kids run around. 

Next is Basketball season last year.  By no means are we a sports family.  Our kids are not the top athlete and we don't push them to be.  They play just to say hey look I Play.  We go to their games with all kids in tow.  Call us crazy but during the games our kids stay with us especially when it is indoors.  Baseball games where there is a playground we might let them go but not until they were like at least 6-7 years old.  Well parents now let their kids run crazy.  They are watching their kids play sports while there other kids are doing damage in the building.  It got bad that they almost cancelled the season.  Then not only is it 6+ year old kids but little ones who are 3 and 4 and I guess are expected to be watched by the older kids they are with.  I just don't get it????

OK my last one (I have so many more)  My husband was leading the pack meeting and I sat quietly in the back of the room.  He had to stop speaking many of times because of outburst from kids and even adults who kept talking.  He is standing in the front of the room speaking and going over important issues and I just stand there with my jaw to the floor as parents are getting up and going there and going here and letting there kids go get a drink and run around.  What are we teaching these children?  The older boys put on a skit and I noticed how parents just let their kids e very disrespectful to the kids in the skit by letting them talk.  Its sad so sad to see how parents are raising their kids.

I by far am not perfect at this parenting thing..we all make mistakes and we all make faults.  I just hope that I learn from them and I really to believe I have.  I just hope some of these other parents are learning too.  These children are our future and its already not looking good and if these young kids are not learning basic manners from their parents we just might be in trouble

Blessings!