Bleck, Bleck, Bleck

I started the day really early, even though the kids had off school.  I knew it would be just that busy.  So I headed out for a quick morning run.  20 minutes, couldn't even spare 30 - but I got 2.5 miles in.  I arrived back home just in time for our monthly foster visit/home inspect.  Afterwards, I did the quickest shower and wardrobe change before heading to the dentist with a kid in tow.  Stopped on the way home for party supplies and milk and cereal - no groceries were in the house, since we had been gone ten days - I needed something to tie us over.

Last minute detour trip to library to return some overdue books and pick up a prize one of my kids had won.  Get home to some boys being delivered.  (10) 9&10 year old boys descended on our house for a birthday party.  Pizza and junk food filled lunch and then to the movies in two cars.  After the movie a dead battery that couldn't be jumped force 12 of us into my 8-seater Honda Pilot.  Glad we're all friends here.

After dropping off each of the boys at their homes, we did world's fastest turn around to pick up two kids for their first of many Christmas Orchestra Ensemble Performances around town.  Got them set up, while Travis went to auto parts store.  He returned for us to head back to theater to change out the battery.  Four minute battery swap, he is a super stud, and a return trip to pick up kids who are finishing up.  All home to cram in bed times, belated all be it, a late dinner of a tuna fish sandwich to keep me from starving to death as two pieces of pizza was all I had eaten all day.

Finally a rewarding donut run to end the evening.  Yes I eat my stress away.  But you see I run for sanity in the morning and eat for relief in the evening.  It's why I can start tomorrow as energetic and chipper as I did today and most days - running and donuts.  This week/month is gonna be crazy.  If only I could find a way to make my donut costs this month tax deductible!

Issac Birthday Interview - 10 years old

What's your favorite thing to do?

play on my tablet, Terraria

card games with Mom

What do you want to be when you grow up? 

a YouTuber - this is hard - I don't know

I want to make Legos

What is your favorite food?

Tacos

Who do you like to hang out with?

Chase and Nolan and Brycen and Seth

What do you do really well? 

Play Video Games

Play with the Dog - Dog Whisperer

What makes you laugh?

When Mom tickles me

What is the best time of day?

Probably like 11:30 because that is recess at our school

What are you afraid of?

Lots of stuff

I don't want to admit I'm scared of the dark, that's just sad.

What do you like to do with your family?

Play card games, Family Home Evening and games

What do you like to learn about?

Social Studies because we learn about Indians

Where do you like to go?

Skyzone, Laserdome and the Movie Theater

 

What is your favorite book?

I Totally Funniest

James Patterson 

If you could have one wish, what would it be?

I don't know, because I'm having a perfect life right now! 

He Changes Me

More than my husband (probably), more than three other kids combined, more than foster parenting...one little boy with red hair has changed me more than any other person in my life - maybe. 

So yesterday after he traumatized, literally traumatized, his Sunday School teacher at church (basically he gave her the perma-angry, won't be talking to you, little old man scowl after she had to correct him for mocking another little girl) we had a little talk.

Everything about him is different than my other kids.  Some good, some bad.  And where I have found things that have worked in varying degrees with my other kids for discipline, they just don't work with him.

He's super sensitive to correction, take his greatest strength tender empathy for everyone, and the flip side of the coin is any kind of discipline brings out a very defensive, angry, Incredible Hulk self.  And where we have taught him that he can't yell, hit or aggressively act out his anger, he has taken to shutting completely down.  His emotion overwhelms his ability to talk, think or even largely function.

So we wait, wait just a little more, and then start a dialogue of asking questions.  "Can you tell me about your class in Church today?"  And the story comes out, every detail: the good, the bad, the ugly.  He's too guileless to try and hide his mistakes, his contributions to the problem, because with that time, he's already feeling pretty mad at himself and sorry for his behavior.  And as he tells me I gently stroke his cheek, wipe his tears, and rub his back because I know that helps him feel calm and loved despite the necessity I have of reaffirming what behavior is and is not acceptable.

So although it makes me bonkers that it takes 30 minutes plus to work through this issue, I feel just a little more like my Savior who is unendingly patient with me, my own stupidity, mistakes, inappropriate behavior and will take all the time I need to work through it and learn for the future. 

I may not know the end from the beginning, but I know that his red-head was sent to change me more than anything I'll ever be able to teach or help him with.