There is one little compound word in the English language that scares me more than all the rest. //////Homeschool\\\\\\. There I said it! I have only actually ever been able to say it outloud once ever, today when Mickey and I discussed it. I'm not scared of actually teaching my kids, I'm pretty sure I can do that. I'm petrified of being home with them all day, everyday, but that is exactly what they need, especially Ellie.
I don't even feel up to going into all the RAD stuff Ellie has done in the past week. She needs way more than we are giving her, and giving up, though sometimes a fantasy, is not an option. So last night, as I laid awake, I came to the conclusion that the one thing that I have dreaded, is exactly what she needs. More time with us and less time with people she can manipulate.
I have an endless list of hopes and fears. A big fear is because she is in Non-Public school. That means that the local school system threw their hands up (did not have a program suitable), and are paying for her to go to a Private Special Needs School. If I pull her out and homeschool her, and we eventually decided to send her back, where will she go? Public school is not an option in our area. Her non-public school has not done such a great job for her either, emotionally or academically.
Now, I need to start working out my plan. At the end of June, Ellie's school is moving 45 minutes away. I'm thinking I will let her go to the new school through the end of the summer. The summer program is more like a camp anyway, unless it would be better to make a clean break in June. I just don't know! At this point school is just a place for Ellie to lie and manipulate as many people as possible in a day. She has yet to finish the first grade and will be 9 in June!!! The kicker is, SHE IS NOT intellectually limited!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
A Pity Party
Right now I am planning, for the first time, a pity party. It will be complete with cake and ice cream, lots of grumbling and sulking. As you know we are all home on Spring Break. Luckily, we had a nice day on Sunday and a nice day today. So we spent both days, outside doing yard work, and getting the place ready for Spring. It is shaping up nice, if I do say so myself.
The pity party is for Matt and Ellie, but especially Matt. They both did a great job helping us on Sunday. It all started this morning, when he had to help clean up the kitchen. He was shocked and appalled that the dishes that did not fit into the dishwasher actually had to be washed, and Mickey decided that he and Ellie were going to do it before I woke up. Ellie washed and Matt dried. He moaned, he complained, it is NOT fair to make him help with the dishes. So, my lovely partner told him that we would no longer be using the dishwasher, and he could wash all the dishes from now on. Hehehe.
Then we get to the yardwork. We have a very small inner backyard, where the pool is. Todays job was to rake the leftover leaves out from around the pool. He moaned, he grumbled, he wanted to play with his friends. Mind you his friends are not even outside yet. Everytime Mickey gave Ellie a direction she burst into tears (Ellie that is). Finally, Mickey had enough and sent them to the outer yard, and told them to just play. Ellie happily jumped on the trampoline, swung on the swing, and even attempted the pogo stick, all the while singing and chattering. Matt stratigically place himself so we could watch him sulk, and sulk, and sulk. Of course we ignored him, which made him come closer so we would be sure to see how pitiful he was. That didn't work, so he stood in the middle of the yard shivering, hoping that I would tell him to go in the house. By now, I had pulled off my jacket from working, and Ellie was asking to take off hers.
He is now standing in the very back of the yard, trying to convince Ellie that we are so mean, as she flits around him and happily climbs a tree. We are the only parents in the world that ask their children to do extra work along with them, on Spring Break. It is bad enough that he has to clean his room, take his clothes to the laundry room, fold his clean clothes, take out the trash, and clean the dog poop. Those are his ONLY chores. He honestly believes that NONE of his friends or any other 11 year old in the world is asked to do soooooo much.
So now we are all inside. Matt is up in his room after being sent to bed. Poor baby, must be so tired from drying dishes this morning! A nap will do him good.
If anyone would like to let Matt and Ellie know how bad they have it, I will give them your reply tonight at the pity party. I might even take pictures!
The pity party is for Matt and Ellie, but especially Matt. They both did a great job helping us on Sunday. It all started this morning, when he had to help clean up the kitchen. He was shocked and appalled that the dishes that did not fit into the dishwasher actually had to be washed, and Mickey decided that he and Ellie were going to do it before I woke up. Ellie washed and Matt dried. He moaned, he complained, it is NOT fair to make him help with the dishes. So, my lovely partner told him that we would no longer be using the dishwasher, and he could wash all the dishes from now on. Hehehe.
Then we get to the yardwork. We have a very small inner backyard, where the pool is. Todays job was to rake the leftover leaves out from around the pool. He moaned, he grumbled, he wanted to play with his friends. Mind you his friends are not even outside yet. Everytime Mickey gave Ellie a direction she burst into tears (Ellie that is). Finally, Mickey had enough and sent them to the outer yard, and told them to just play. Ellie happily jumped on the trampoline, swung on the swing, and even attempted the pogo stick, all the while singing and chattering. Matt stratigically place himself so we could watch him sulk, and sulk, and sulk. Of course we ignored him, which made him come closer so we would be sure to see how pitiful he was. That didn't work, so he stood in the middle of the yard shivering, hoping that I would tell him to go in the house. By now, I had pulled off my jacket from working, and Ellie was asking to take off hers.
He is now standing in the very back of the yard, trying to convince Ellie that we are so mean, as she flits around him and happily climbs a tree. We are the only parents in the world that ask their children to do extra work along with them, on Spring Break. It is bad enough that he has to clean his room, take his clothes to the laundry room, fold his clean clothes, take out the trash, and clean the dog poop. Those are his ONLY chores. He honestly believes that NONE of his friends or any other 11 year old in the world is asked to do soooooo much.
So now we are all inside. Matt is up in his room after being sent to bed. Poor baby, must be so tired from drying dishes this morning! A nap will do him good.
If anyone would like to let Matt and Ellie know how bad they have it, I will give them your reply tonight at the pity party. I might even take pictures!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Spring Break
Spring Break has officially started, 10 minutes ago. Ellie had a half day today, so here we go.... There is always a certain amount of anxiety about going into the 'unknown', of a week with us all home. Hopefully it will go smoothly, but experience tells us differently.
Last night we finally saw our good friends Mary and Cindy after what seems like months. Their son, Marc, is in the P-hosp. We actually met them a few years ago when Matt and Marc were roommates in the hosp. We were only allowed to see the kids for an hour a day, so it was easy to spot another two mom family. We struck up a friendship, and had our first real life friends with a kid just like ours. It is our life line, and not seeing them for a few months has been hard, but they work in the tax industry.
Last night Cindy fixed an awesome dinner! She grilled marinated steaks, made baked potatoes, sauteed zucchini with tomatoes, salad, and fresh fruit. I'm going to get mileage off of this dinner for a long time, in my memory.... Cindy is an incredible Chef. We love it when she comes to our house and plays Iron Chef. She can pull random items from our fridge, freezer, and cabinets and make a gourmet meal!
The kids are usually good there and last night was no exception. They have both stayed overnight with M and C on various occasions. They know that they run their house just like ours, manipulations won't work. We love that! Both have been punished there, by us, and nobody is going to save them or feel sorry for them. We refuse to not go over to see our friends or leave because one of the kids is acting out. One or the other might be sitting at our feet, but nobody bats an eye. It feels like this has been an extra long tax season, and we have really missed having our friends!
So being at the Domestic Diva's house last night has re-inspired me to pull this place together. I must say outloud though that I did see one very tiny pile in her dining room! She's making new curtains, and had the material neatly folded...but it was still a pile in my opinion! I was supposed to have two rooms totally complete before Spring Break. I have been making progress. I actually even went out earlier in the week and cleaned out my front garden beds. I had one flower blooming, that I accidently pulled out, oops. The dining room is cleared out, but I do need to finish painting. There are no remains of my e-bay business, which is a huge accomplishment!
I have two hours before Matt is home. Maybe Spring break can officially start then!
Last night we finally saw our good friends Mary and Cindy after what seems like months. Their son, Marc, is in the P-hosp. We actually met them a few years ago when Matt and Marc were roommates in the hosp. We were only allowed to see the kids for an hour a day, so it was easy to spot another two mom family. We struck up a friendship, and had our first real life friends with a kid just like ours. It is our life line, and not seeing them for a few months has been hard, but they work in the tax industry.
Last night Cindy fixed an awesome dinner! She grilled marinated steaks, made baked potatoes, sauteed zucchini with tomatoes, salad, and fresh fruit. I'm going to get mileage off of this dinner for a long time, in my memory.... Cindy is an incredible Chef. We love it when she comes to our house and plays Iron Chef. She can pull random items from our fridge, freezer, and cabinets and make a gourmet meal!
The kids are usually good there and last night was no exception. They have both stayed overnight with M and C on various occasions. They know that they run their house just like ours, manipulations won't work. We love that! Both have been punished there, by us, and nobody is going to save them or feel sorry for them. We refuse to not go over to see our friends or leave because one of the kids is acting out. One or the other might be sitting at our feet, but nobody bats an eye. It feels like this has been an extra long tax season, and we have really missed having our friends!
So being at the Domestic Diva's house last night has re-inspired me to pull this place together. I must say outloud though that I did see one very tiny pile in her dining room! She's making new curtains, and had the material neatly folded...but it was still a pile in my opinion! I was supposed to have two rooms totally complete before Spring Break. I have been making progress. I actually even went out earlier in the week and cleaned out my front garden beds. I had one flower blooming, that I accidently pulled out, oops. The dining room is cleared out, but I do need to finish painting. There are no remains of my e-bay business, which is a huge accomplishment!
I have two hours before Matt is home. Maybe Spring break can officially start then!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Simplicity
In January, Ellie started her distructive rampage. She had already been moved into a smaller bedroom, and didn't have furniture, other than her bed. About 3 1/2 years ago, when Ashleigh moved in and we were a bedroom short, Mickey put up walls to split the largest bedroom. Matt and Ellie each got the split rooms. They had already both ruined dressers, so we took them out. We put up hanging sweater organizers, and only gave them five days of clothes at a time. They each got three cubes, for books, toys, and shoes. We also kept the closet locked, so they couldn't get to the other clothes and destroy them, or pee in the closet. They could only have the books that would fit in the bin, and only the toys that fit in the other, (Ellie currently hasn't earned her toys back).
After Ellie decided to rip off her wallpaper and write curse words on the wall, she lost her room. She slept on the playroom floor until she could paint over the curse words, because I wouldn't let her continue to be in there. Mickey decided to move Matt into the other empty bedroom. He now has a big room with a bed, dresser, desk, armoire, armchair, and a few bins of toys. We moved Ellie into Matt's old room. I got it painted and set up, and so far so good! She really disliked painting over the curse words in her old room. Probably because I gave her a 1" paint brush to paint a 3' x 5' area! Here's what her new room looks like.
Before she decided to destroy everything, she had a really cute room, with a Safari theme. She loves wild animals, so she had a woven grass look wallpaper with safari animal borders. I made the window shade, which also has animals on it. She had a safari comforter, it was so cute!
This is her fourth bedroom. The first two were like fairytale rooms. She had her toys, little kitchen set, tv with tapes. She had a cute princess rug (that she dumped printer ink on), and a nice long dresser (that she wrote on and stood on like a stage). I tried really hard to make her last room cozy and comfortable. Now I'm done with cute for her. I'm sad that our little girl can't handle nice things, but maybe in time.
Well now Matt is home, he has a half day every Wednesday. I'm hearing every single April's Fools gag that was pulled in his all boys fifth grade class! Those poor teachers!!!!
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