I need a vacation. I’m so far behind on emails and making entries, I bet everyone thinks I want nothing to do with them. =(

Work hasn’t help with stress. Which will be another vent for later………..lets just say, some people need better people skills and quit acting like a dictator.

It has been a very stressful week or two, but I think everyone is finally starting to get use to each other. When I came home Saturday, every one was watching a movie and had dessert. Which is a great sign, since I’ve been coming home to someone in the corner or writing sentences. Well, I had come home Sunday and everyone was in trouble……lying, not doing what they were told, the oldest being a bully………icks. I just wanted to cry. All I wanted was a happy summer.

While 2 of them were in a corner and another pulling weeds for punishment, Torn and I talked about what we had wanted for the kids. The talks that may mean something to them one day, the trips, having fun. We talked about our experiences growing up, being picked on and all the stuff. It had been such a bad day; we decided that we were going to start all over this morning.

We brought the kids out and told them. We tried to talk to them about standing up for themselves (they get picked on a lot). We really talked to our nephew about standing up for himself against his sister, who is a year older. She will get into these moods and just goes after him, she is pretty much a bully. Yes, we know it may be part of the ADD, but the problem we see is that she as never been held accountable for her actions and he has never defended himself. So we told him if she doesn’t stop after he tries to get away and he tells her to stop, to hit her in the arm.

He is great brother to both his sisters, he puts up with a lot, can take a lot of the hits that they will do, he is very helpful with the youngest, and will defend them and explain them to people. But maybe he has been too nice to his older sister and that is the problem.

I don’t know how much that they understood about it. We told them that they need to tell all the adults in school and their grandparents, but if it doesn’t stop that you may have to take a stand. Told them that they will get in trouble but that it is something that they have to be willing to face. But once they stand up, they more then likely will left alone after that.

So Torn has been trying to talk to our nephew on standing up for himself, and we are trying to get them to think before they act. We are also trying to get the oldest to hold her head high. You could be just talking to her and she isn’t in trouble, and she drops her head like she is. Tonight she told me she doesn’t know why she does that, or frown a lot and that she’ll still get picked on. I told her it doesn’t happen over night, it takes time.

When we talked to my folks last night, we suggested that the kids should take martial arts. Yes, the oldest doesn’t need to learn how to pick on her brother and sister anymore. But martial arts are great for learning self control and self esteem. And that is what they really need.

Today we went to the zoo and they had fun. We only had to correct them twice and that was for cutting people off. I hate kids that just push their way in front of you and cut people off, unless they are 5 and under their parents should be working on their manners. We were not going to have that from our kids and other then 2 times at the beginning, they did very well. They also listened about not screaming and making noise at the animals. I told them, that it was like me going up to them and screaming in their ears. So they understood that pretty well.

They went swimming today, until the oldest decided to attack her brother. She ended up spending time in a corner, sweeping the floors and doing some math and going to bed early. We are trying to get it through to her that when she gets into one of her moods that she needs to tell us and get away from her brother and sister.

I told Torn that all we can do, is to keep reinforcing it.

The other two got to spend a lot more time in pool and watch a movie.

Even with the flair up, I was happy on how the day went because I believed we handled the flair up pretty well.

We haven’t told the kids, but we ordered some legos. I could not believe that I couldn’t find any regular legos. All I could find is specialty ones and we really want them to work on their imagination……….not coloring in the lines all the time, tv or xbox. According to my update, we should be getting the legos tomorrow.

That is it for now; I have to work early tomorrow……icks….. Looking forward to my day off Friday. Torn and I have a park in mind for the kids if it doesn’t rain…….keep your fingers crossed.

This has been a rough week. It actually started off bad last Saturday, when I discovered that I was going through brake fluid like crazy. Torn had to take it in and wait over 3hrs, with the 3 kids at the garage as it got fixed. Luckily, I had thrown some work books and crayons into the truck before he left since I had to go on to work.

The 2 oldest are still grounded from the TV, Xbox, pool (raining so it doesn’t matter at the moment), and going out to do anything special. But the boy has been eating, he was barely eating a few days ago. They have been coloring and playing quietly. If they behave, they will no longer be grounded Saturday and then may be they can go swimming. I have Monday off, so if they are good we would love to take them to the zoo.

For the last two days, I got them to do their workbooks. The oldest is getting much need practiced on math. I’m trying to get the boy to slow down and pay attention to what he is doing. The 6yr old is pain to get her to practice writing her letters and numbers. She is lazy when it comes to them. I put the other two on to other things or having them correct the ones I found wrong, while I try to push her to write. She seems to think that being cute will help her get out of doing it. When she tried it, I put her into a corner until she was ready to try again.

Since they are grounded, I’m worried about their lack of physical activity. So I had them walk down to the mail box with me, which is about 1/4 mile away. On the way back they ran, so I was happy to see them use up some of their energy.

I actually balanced our check book today. I haven’t been able to do it for the last 2 weeks, which is horrible for me. I usually do it every few days…..it is amazing how much money we spend at wally world. =( Damn, I wish there was a competitor around here. Now I need to play catch up on receipts and pay our quarterly taxes. I think I’ll just get the receipts organized and that will be half the battle.

I just got them down for bed, not helping that a neighbor is making noise. =( Showed the youngest how to cover her ears.

Between home and work, I’m so stressed that I can’t eat even though my tummy tells me to. And all I want to do is go into hiding and cry. =(

But I can’t do that.

The oldest two have been caught in lies. So we are trying to teach them how bad it is to lie with putting them in a corner, writing sentences & calistics. I should say Torn has been having them do that since he is home with them all day. It is tearing us up, but we want to nip it in the bud. We don’t want them to follow the path their mother took.

We worry about stopping the lying and we worry about whether we are doing more harm then good. Torn the harder of us two, the kids know that I’m pissed. We also try talking to them. Even though they are in trouble I let them know that I love them before bed and I have them tell me why we are doing this. I don’t want them to think that we hate them.

Boy, I feel like shit. And I know Torn feels worst then me cause he is the one that has dishing out the punishment. =(

Wow, what happen to having some time to get every day things done? It sure hasn’t existed this last week. I’ve been trying to spend some quaility time with the kids around work. By the time I actually have time to do anything, I’m so drained I don’t remember what I need to do much less feel like doing it. I thought I would have more time before and after work for their workbooks, but that hasn’t been happening like I wish it would. I’ve got to find a way to work them in.

It as been both rough and good for us and the kids. They get to have fun with the pool, learning to play Torn’s XBox and we took them to go cart park today. But then they hit rough spots on some of their behaviors.

The oldest told a lie the other day, HUGE no-no. Didn’t even think twice about it. Torn ends up being the bad guy because he wants to break that habit before she develops it like her mother did. Then he ends up feeling like crap because he is the bad guy to a 10yr old.

The 9yr old is competive in the wrong sense. It is like he is over doing it because he is the only male with 2 sisters and when they are at home there is a 12yr neighbor girl there and it doesn’t help that she picks on him. Then my mother wonders why he “whines”. Torn and I are trying to get him and his sisters to understand that it is okay to be competive without being either bad loser or winner. We are also trying to find a way to stop the whining while increasing his self esteem to help him deal with his sisters and the 12yr (who in my opinion needs to stay away from them).

I’m also trying to figure out the best way to explain to the 10yr the things a woman needs to know in a way that she understands (it is right around the corner). I have no problem talking to her, I just don’t know if she’ll understand since she is going into 4th grade. So I’m going to check out a few books to see the best language to use on her.

I’ve had the “tell an adult” talk if someone touches you in the private areas with the 10 & 6 yr old. Need to have it with the 9yr old. I know that they have had some of those talks, but I just want to make sure that I reenforce it with them.

I believe in being frankly honest with kids, that is how I was raised. I find that I don’t have an issue with discussing anything with them, it is just making sure that I talk at the level that they understand it.

Pharmacist Who Refused to Fill Birth Control Prescription Loses Lawsuit

Was the 2004 Election Stolen?

American Free Press

**I haven’t had a chance to fully read this, but one of my libertian clients recommended the Rolling Stone article and that site.

Wow, it has been a long week. Between work and adjusting our routine around the kids. Torn and the kids are adjusting to each other.

I’ve been trying to have the oldest 2 to take time out to read. We have been limiting the amount of TV and trying to get them to play outside when it isn’t too hot.

Today we racked up the yard and then spent some time in the pool.

The oldest wasn’t allowed in the pool very long since she decided to dive in. The pool is about 5′8″ in the center and she dived at the shallow end. So Torn told her that she was done for the day swimming. Later I asked did she knew why she wasn’t suppose to dive and she answered, so she doesn’t hit her head and have to go to the hospital. I then further explained the different things that could happen to her if she hurt head. I told her that reason why Uncle Torn was so upset was that we are scare of her hurting herself. She did good and didn’t cry during it. So I believe she understood.

Later on that evening I had to have the conversation with the 6 yr old on why she has to sit like a lady when wearing a skirt. Which led to the conversation that no one wants to have with their kids, but with all the sick people out there you have to have it to protect them.

I did sit down and had them to a few of the pages in their work books that I got them. I need to have the youngest start working on some of the stuff the teacher sent home with her this summer. I love that they show interest in learning and doing the work. Even if they use the work books for getting my individual attention. It is great way to get them to learn.

We are watching the news and I’m getting annoyed. All the stories of people’s personal and credit information getting stolen and comprised. My dad is a vet, so I’m worried about his credit and we’ve used hotel.com, so now I’m concerned about ours. What is wrong with people?

I’m expecting a call from mom & dad so they can say good night to the kids. I don’t know if they plan on calling every night while they are here or just for the 1st week or so.

A fellow webmaster runs a site that directs surfers to women friendly porn. It is where the porn presentation is for the woman in mind, much better then “gagging on the cock” crap. Which I hate.

Well, she also has her own blog and I added her. I’ve been thinking of adding her for awhile because I like the insights and thoughts that she has on women and porn. I agree with much of it, I just don’t have the gift of articulating my thoughts so clearly as hers.

She made this post that where she gives a great insight to why certain language of porn sites are still so damaging. There is some language that Torn and I use among ourselves, but if any one else used it on me, I would rip their head off. Check it out, you may learn something. =)