Front Porch Garden

Well I should have seen this coming but I didn't. We've had two great weekends with Fabian home from The Ranch after he's had not so good weeks there. Today after soccer practice Fabian helped himself to the younger kid's snacks that were provided by another mom after I told him not to do so. He did it anyway and I confronted him about it at which point he became very stuck on stupid as we refer to stubborn mules around here.

He refused to get in the van so we tried to wait him out to no avail. Interestingly enough I'd been reading a book about the guy who founded The Ranch and all the problems he'd gone through. I'm sitting there wondering why anyone would chose that life but it aggravatingly dawned on me that I'd done so as well. I was so furious.

Joey volunteered to stay at the park while I took the Bubbas home and got reinforcements in the way of Sonny and Vanessa. Edgar was way over in Rome, Georgia three hours away at a cross-country track meet. Daniel was at the UGA football game that doesn't even start until 5:30 tonight. I left Joey my cell phone aka short leash and I made the round trip in about ten minutes. Vanessa decided that she'd be The Negotiator since it was clear I'd only spit while talking I was so upset.

Within two minutes they were all, Fabian, Vanessa, Sonny and Joey, in the van, Fabian apologized and came home to do chores without my asking him. No telling what Vanessa said to him. Probably something profound like, "Want lunch?"

I was feeling sorry for myself that besides getting the kids everywhere they need to be I also had to deal with the recalcitrant ones. I wanted to just go out to lunch since I was hungry also but that's not an option. I had just walked in the door when Sarah called with a delightful lunch prepared for me with fudge on the side. That made my day.

It reduces my stress level to work with my plants so Chuy, Allen and I worked for a couple of hours in my front porch garden. A full belly helps also.