it would have been nice to go one week before getting a behavior report from afterschool.

I am horrified of how he acts toward me once he has gotten a reprimand from the teacher - it's something I need to get over my worries of "oh how this much look to the other parents", but I know how it would look to me, he lashes out at me verbally, talks back, makes me wait out in the cold while he refuses to come home - he is all puffed up chest and bravado and "that teacher better mind her own, she can't tell me what to do.", "you don't make the rules, I will do whatever I want and you can't stop me.".

I mean compared to the verbal garbage I have gotten in the past that is nothing, but in front of other parents and kids, the level of disrespect is not what is often displayed.

It is so incredibly depressing that I arrived here when it was dark, and it will be dark again when I leave. Bah, winter.

And I'm going home this weekend, when home will be in the middle of a historic cold snap.

Oh msbelle, I sympathize. And I know it's hard to remember, but the other parents probably witness plenty of questionable behavior from their own kids. I think once you're a parent, you really get that you can't judge what anyone else is going through with their kids, because you know how hard it can be, in so many different ways.

Ugh msbelle, s'not fun sometimes.

msbelle, when the worst behavior happens with my kids in public, I usually get tunnel vision--I can't even look at other parents to gauge their reaction. I'm sort of thankful because that's stuff I just don't need.

The disrespect thing kills be the most. As much as we sweat and sacrifice for our kids, they just don't get it and can really treat us like shit.

But then they have the nerve to look cute and save their asses.

Ugh. msbelle, I'm sorry; everything is so hard.

well he calmed down pretty fast, but we are going to have to talk during bath so that tomorrow morning is not a HUGE battle. No toys to take to afterschool is the issue, he has not been doing homework and the teacher called his behavior "uncontrollable" in addition to him just not minding them.

He also started crying when I said "I am the most terrible mom, just like Nancy's parents in the book. We're terrible." poor mixed up emotionally stunted noodle.

...and poor tired mom...

Grace got a new roommate today. Her name is Amanda and she's, I think, Chinese. She looks so adorable and tiny and sweet.

annnnndddd so much for things getting back on track. refused bath. defiant about what will happen tomorrow. off to bed like a big fat pouter mc pout pout (which I did not call him).

I wish I could buy you a margarita, msbelle. And take mac out for a nerf gun battle or something.

ION, my book Lost in the Grooves is now apparently in the Rotorua, NZ library system. Wheee! They'll appreciate Jon's sidebar on NZ indie rock.