major relief- the dream job wants Tom to come in for an interview next week. OK.

much job~ma for Tom.

yay!!!!!!! job ma~~~~~

Job-ma for Tom. Condolences for Barb. Sorry they reneged, but hopefully this opens up other opportunities for you.

Happy Birthday, Perkins!

Today is a long, long day.

Oh, that's fabulous, Nora! Wonderful news!

{{{Pix and Barb}}} What shitty days!

Parents of toddlers, I need some advice. One of my preschoolers (a three-year-old) is actively mean, completely disregards anything I say/request then yells at me when I continue to patiently ask her to stop whatever she is doing (which is usually dangerous), has no remorse for anything, and when I ask her why she's in time out she typically responds, "Because you're mean."

I tried talking to the father tonight because she hurt two kids (much older/bigger than her, I might add) in after care today, and had a total of three time-outs (and she could have had more, but I did start to feel like I was acting out of frustration, which I try to avoid). There is a horrible language barrier there, though, and he just kept saying, "Thank you" when I described the issues.

I did talk to her teacher before she left for the day, and she said she'd try to mention problems to the mother, who has a better grasp of English, apparently. But, oh goodness. I actually had to step out of the room today for a moment because I could feel yelling coming on. I am at a loss, and her teacher didn't really have many other suggestions than what I was already trying.

I try very hard to really praise her and emphasize when she does something appropriately, and when she's not, I try to model appropriate behavior/responses for her. I try to encourage her to be gentle, etc. but eventually had to tell her today that she's no longer allowed to touch any of the other kids after a hug turned into a headlock where a poor kiddo's neck got twisted.

Apparently, she trapped another preschooler in a bathroom stall last week--and the poor kid was so terrified that she wouldn't go to the bathroom without a teacher holding her hand for several days.

I'm just getting to be at a loss.

A good family friend died in a motorcycle accident. I found out Monday, and I'm still kind of working on processing it. I've known him since I was a baby. He has two daughters, and two grandkids (both still babies, really -- I think the older one just turned 2.)

Not sure if I'm looking for hugs or ~ma or what. Just kind of needed to say this, somewhere.

Job~ma for Tom.

Barb, I'm so sorry. That's just fucking unfair.

Gods, Hil. I'm very sorry. Whatever you need, please let us know.

Yikes, 3 year olds. My niece has been a total shit from the moment she turned three. Er, I have no advice.

Thanks for the ~ma, guys. Not a done deal yet by any means, but at least they liked his code enough to have him in for a 4-5 hour interview. I will request interview~ma when it's time! (because you guys rock at the ~ma.)

Oh, Hil, I didn't see your post till after I posted. I'm so sorry about your friend. Peace to your family and to his.

Thanks, juliana. I'm not sure what I need, really. My mom says I'm not expected to go to the funeral, which I think might be in Arizona. I wish I could go sit shiva at his daughter's house -- she and her husband and kids live up in NJ, near my parents -- but I don't think I can take the time off for someone that's not my family, not when I've already missed a few days this week from being sick, and planning to miss a few more for the Jewish holidays in a few weeks.