Last night Josh wanted to go to the assisted living place with the kids and their friends and visit my Mom. Part of why we went was to get her credit card and her driver's license, neither of which she needs anymore. The lady who runs the place agreed that a person going into assisted living does not need either, so off we went. The other part of the reason we went was to get her dirty, poopy comforter to have it cleaned.
I knew my husband might lock the keys in the car cuz he was highly distracted (4 kids, on the phone, stressed cuz of my Mom). Sure enough, when we finally went to leave a little after 9:00, we were locked out of the car.
Fortunately, we could wait inside where it was warm. The nice ladies let us all have crackers, cookies and ice water (the kids were parched). Three of the kids behaved themselves and one nut job kid was all over the floor and running and just acting up in general. He would not sit down when I told him firmly to do so. The others were great!
Today, the one kid who's trouble and a pain in the posterior, was supposed to wear mud boots outside. His parents are nuts about him doing anything or getting dirty or hurt, etc. They are just spastic parents in general. So Josh told Seth that in order to play outside, the kids should all wear protective footwear. This was a very simple direction. I was in bed so I couldn't see what was going on.
After a little while, Josh and I looked out the window and lo and behold, the kid was wearing his shoes, not mud boots, and his shoes were completely goobed in mud. Josh called out to Gabe and he came up to the front porch, filthy. I took his shoes to hose them off and they were nasty, caked with red clay.
Josh was furious. He took Seth up to the front porch and called Gabe outside. I was watching as Josh told Gabe that because of Gabe not listening, Seth was going to get a spank. Because they both didn't listen and follow directions, they saw the bad side of Josh. I felt badly for Seth but the principal was still there; he did not follow simple direction.
Gabe's parents came to pick him up, after he spent the night (by my request) and the parents had a night out since it was their anniversary. So when the parents got there, they joked as usual about stuff and there was some talking. Then Josh brought up what happened with Gabe and the mud. Right away, both parents were siding with the kids and they apologized to Seth for having gotten in trouble. That, obviously was not the issue. It had nothing to do with mud or anything else, it was not listening that caused the trouble.
So the parents didn't get it at all and said how they have the same problem of mud around their house too. That proved right there that they didn't understand the thrust of the issue or the issue at all.
There is always the risk that some other parents will get mad when their child comes over to spend time; that's just a given. With us (Josh and me), it seems to be just about inevitable. We seem to unknowingly anger parents at every turn. Oh well, we just want the kids to have fun and if something accidentally happens, big deal. We can only be so careful and as good as we can as guardians. We don't take chances with any kids and ours are very well behaved. It's not worth getting undies all twisted up about kids being kids.
Hey, Gabe's dog bit Tate in the stomach and we were fine since his injury was not serious at all. Gabe's parents were petrified to tell us and scared to death what we'd think when they did. We could have freaked out and gone off on Gabe's parents. They even said something like it's OK if we were really mad at them, they would understand. Like they could have helped what their dog did, or that they would have wanted it to happen. Tate said that they put ice on the bite, ointment then another kind of ointment and then a bandage. Tate asked why they were doing all of that. He said, "I can deal with it". I love my kids so much and there's another reason why I am proud of them - for toughing something out.
Gabe's parents left not long after the dad jokingly said how awkward it was on that note. Gabe had asked for the keys to start the car; it was probably feeling a little hot in the room for him. As he was going out the door, my husband asked him if there was something he wanted to say. Gabe said, "No" and then "I'm sorry" and turned to leave. Josh asked him if what he said was the way it really went. Gabe said that it was true the way Josh said. This way, it will be harder for Gabe to lie to his parents about what happened when the parents got alone with him.
Lately, we have been getting it from several directions and I am ready to be done for a while. My head is out of control and I am going to sleep early tonight, actually right after dinner if not before. This has just been unnecessary stress.
S.L.M 1.1.10 @ 12:35 PM
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