Punishments

I have entered into a new phase in my life.  This phase involves learning how to deal with life with a 12 and 13 year old after living with out kids in the house.  So far this has involved setting basic rules like cleaning your room, doing the dishes, being nice to everyone, and having a set bedtime.  But the kids have still found ways to get into trouble.  So far they've been grounded, phone taken away, video games taken away, and plans have been canceled.  It's not fun.  I never realized that when I was in trouble when I was young it meant my mom didn't get to do fun things so that I could be punished.  I've been talking to my mom a lot lately and she's been giving me all kinds of insight into these unfun preteen to teen years.  It appears that parents don't tell their kids about these things because it may keep them from having kids. 

• I found out that the next two weeks will be rocky getting the kids on a schedule and used to school.  
• I also found out that summers off from school will have a rocky two weeks of schedule adjustment.
• Also kids like to be dirty and keep trash in various yucky locations in their rooms.  Like: under the bed, in a drawer, in a corner, and in the closet.
• Giving kids their clean clothes does not mean that they will put them away.  I've found clothes piled up in the corner, under the bed, and all over the floor in the closet.

I never realized how specific you have to be about rules.  At this age they will push everything until you are firm with them and they keep getting in trouble.

Last night everyone was being good.  I finished the back to school clothes shopping.  We had pizza for supper. We played UNO spin after supper.  We let the kids stay up past their bedtime and watch Shrek in the living room.  And what happened the girl peirced the boys ear with a dirty safety pin.  So once again they're in trouble.  It's barely been a day since the last time they were in trouble.  I'm getting tired of having to get angry and have talks with them.  I hope going to school will ease this up some.  It should since it'll give them less time to fight with each other.

What punishments do you find effective?

Beth Ann

Hellooo!!!

I'm terribly sorry that it's been so long since my last post.  It has been a hectic time.  I've moved into a half a house right next to the one bedroom apartment that I lived in.  My boyfriends 12 and 13 year old kids have also moved in with us.  So  we are entering a bit of a parental area that we have not been in before.  It is involving discussions of chores, bed times, nutrition, and exercise.  There have been some heated discussions so far but no solid decisions made.

Because of this my boyfriend called today to check on the kids and it appears that Miss Pink told Mr. Blue that he was not allowed to watch the TV in the living room or even enter the living room under dad's instructions.  So Mr. Blue went downstairs to ask Doug the, keep an eye on the kids neighbor, to see if he knew that he wasn't allowed to watch the TV in the living room.  Doug had no idea.  So then he talks to his dad only to find out that he's been lied to.

So now we must decide if the kids can follow a schedule of, whose allowed to use that TV at what time, or if they can only watch the tvs in their rooms or what?  If we're not home I prefer them out in the open and not squirreled away in their rooms.  But that's just me.

I also informed my boyfriend that the kids should be taking turns doing the dishes.  At first he didn't agree with that. He listed two small chores of setting the table and sweeping the floor that he gave to Miss Pink.  Apparently Mr. Blue doesn't have to do anything.  To this I replied they are lying around watching TV, playing video games and eating food all day.  I think they could have some  real chores since their not exactly busy or anything.

We're supposed to discuss this when he gets home. 

What chores do your kids have?

Beth Ann

Moving Day

Today is the day that we move all our stuff to a half a house from our one bedroom apartment.  We are really moving into the house next door so it should be pretty easy.  There has been weeks of stress leading up to this because the half a house has needed a lot of work and my boyfriend and the owner put almost everything off until the last possible second. I don't deal well with that sort of thing so I've been pretty crabby.

I was having a particularly bad day on Thursday and started to pack the kitchen.  It was making me really sad and I was already angry so I went to the half a house next door and started cleaning.  I'm not over there five minutes before I hear this car with no muffler.  I realize that it sounds familiar.  I think I heard it when I was sleeping last night.  I look out the window and the car is parked blocking my car in.  My parking space is where apartment 3 is assigned to park because no ones been in there since March and the guy that used to live there didn't have a car.  The people started unpacking and once they left I moved my car so that they could have the space.

This parking space is right beside my bedroom.  So now a car with no muffler is pulling up to park beside my bedroom wall at all hours of the day and night.  Well I was sad and nostalgic that we were moving.  That seems to have disappeared at the thought of sleeping next to a muffler-less car.  Now I'm ready to move and happy that I only have to spend two nights sleeping beside that motorcycle sounding beast right beside my apartment.  I do feel sorry for whoever is moving into my apartment next because I doubt the lease stated that they had the opportunity to spend the next year sleeping next to a car that you can hear approaching from a mile away.  Good luck new apartment dweller.  Your gonna need it.

What keeps you up at night?

Beth Ann

Boxes, Boxes, Boxes.......

We're moving once again.  I knew this day was coming but there were so many obstacles I thought I might have a few extra days.  Nope! My boyfriend is in a rush to move.  I've received many assurances that all the things that need to be done at the apartment next door will be done in time for us to move in on Saturday.  I find that really hard to believe since nothings gone as planned or as previously stated so why would this?  But I have no other choice but to try and believe him.  Which leaves me with a house fastly filling up with boxes.

I've lost the enthusiasm of moving a while ago since in the last five and a half years I've moved four times and this will be a fifth time.  It seems to be getting a bit excessive.  I'd like to have an address for more than a year.  But I don't know if that'll happen.  I know that after this move we want to buy a house.  But I'm not sure how long it'll take for use to:

a) Find a house that we like.

b) Save up money for a down payment.

c) Can actually afford a house.

It seems so permanent and like a huge leap to buy one.  But I am tired a renting and with my boyfriends kids coming to live with us it really seems like we are headed in our first house direction.

How ready were you when you bought your first house?   Is it possible to be ready to buy a house?

Beth Ann

Linkin Park Zoo; Chicago, IL

Last week was my vacation week.  I spent the entire week in Northern Illinois with my mom, nephew, and stepdad.  One day we spent in Chicago.  It was a marathon day visiting all kinds of touristy spots, shopping, lots of eating, and a visit to the Linkin Park Zoo.  My nephew was so excited to go (he's 10) that he wanted to ride the train in with my stepdad at 6:08 in the morning.  So we did. 

The night before getting our stuff together my mom told him to wear his orange M&M shirt so that she could easily see him.
 
To this he responded "What if its orange shirt day at the zoo?"

My mom just laughed.

Oops! See picture below:

There were a couple of different groups of kids there in specific colored t-shirts and wouldn't you know, orange was one of the colors.

What do you have kids wear to make them stand out in a crowd?

Beth Ann

Coffee Variety

This week I am on vacation.  I chose to visit my mom, step dad, and nephew in Illinois this year.  They're not coffee drinkers but I am so I've brought some instant coffee with me.  I have a full container of the Sav-A-lot brand and a variety pack of samples that I received from Taster's Choice.

I received the link for the samples from All You's sample of the day email linked here.  When I filled out the form for the sample I figure there would just be maybe two little instant coffee packs in there.  I was surprised when it came in.  It's in the size of a thick envelope and contains about 8 samples with each a different flavor that they offer.  So far I've had 100% Colombian, Breakfast Blend, Hazelnut, French Vanilla, and House Blend.  It's made for a nice variety of morning coffee drinks so far on vacation. Definitely a welcome start to the day.  I found the page where you can order the samples here.

What are you drinking first thing in the morning?

Beth Ann

I'm Grateful for Sunshine

Another Grateful post for Maxabella Loves





This week I am grateful for:

1) The sunshine that has decided to grace us with its presence after at least three days absence if not longer.  Everything seems better when the sun is shining.

2) Being able to take a break.  We don't have the kids this weekend, my family is away, and my boyfriend works till this afternoon.  I've spent a wonderfully lazy morning catching up on fellow bloggers and commenting on their wonderful posts.

3) Having only one week to go until my weeks vacation.  Everything at work has gotten super hectic, like it always does right before vacation.  It just makes me appreciate its impending approach even more.

4) Last of all I am grateful that I have the ability to ride my bike, shop, and browse all by myself for a little while today.  I do love the other people in my life but it's nice not to have to hear their insistent questions on how much longer this is going to take? Or, are we almost done yet?

Beth Ann