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.

Oh Hil-- I am so sorry.

Okay, this week has got to stop piling on people. Hey, week? See what you did with Tom and the job interview? That's the kind of thing we need more of, not all this sadness and frustration and weariness and canceled contracts.

And, bleah, vw. That sounds nightmarish. The nearest thing I can think of to that mess in our history is that Emmett had a couple of almost intractable biters and bullies in one of his daycare situations, and Hec may remember what the daycare staff did to rein them in and control the misery. But, ugh, I'm sorry.

And a shaky fist of rage at the idiots who canceled Barb's contract -- dammit, I want to read that book! And brackets and ~ma in abundance to Kristin and Hil.

Sorry , barb.

and peace , Hil.

and I think I crashed my computer by overwhelming my DH with craig's list jobs