Allen, who turns 13 today, wanted 'cool clothes' since he's a teenager now, and he settled happily for UGA items, but, still being a boy, he wanted a nerf gun. Wearing his UGA apparel and running around shooting Bubbas with nerf bullets, yet another contradiction in terms, vividly illustrating our odd life.
At yard sales today, six kids huddling with me, deciding how many shirts they could get for 25 cents each, a man remarked, "You sure have your hands full."
I never bother to add that I have another 33 kids calling me mom. Who'd believe it anyway and I'm not out to get the sympathy price at garage sales. Tony'd found great deals and I found Sarah some very interesting old historical cookbooks, blowing maybe $2 on several great finds, another glass casserole dish for a quarter. Two pairs of expensive soccer socks, they run $10 each at Academy Sports, we paid a quarter for both pairs.
This is how I'm able to maintain a very large family. I know I could shop the sales at stores and do pretty well, but I have an inexplicable aversion to that, preferring dirt cheap as an alternative, running under the radar of consumerism, hopefully teaching my children to do the same, and remain ecologically on target at well.
Jonathan has done a complete turnaround, offering to help today. "Son, you gotta realize that this is like living with a cobra. I have to wonder each day if I'll be bitten or ignored."
He just stared, totally not comprehending anything, unable to understand even his own behaviors, much less to decipher his moods, foibles or shall we say...incidents?
I'm just a little ill-tempered about it all today, feeling irked that my house looks so bad, scrubbing the kitchen my ownself since no one helps without a meltdown. I just had to ask the Bubbas to leave the kitchen since Paloma was fixing to blow. "Ok, you win," I'd said sarcastically, with quite an edge to my voice, as she was trying her level best to pick a fight with everyone.
Then she was mad because everyone left the room.
OK.
Can't win for losing.
Counting the days?
Surviving.
Not thriving, but everyone's head is above water at least.
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5 comments:
Sometimes that's all you can do - get thru the hour, the morning or afternoon, the weekend. These kids don't know what they want - they think they do in the moment, but it can change from second to second anyway so sometimes it's not worth the effort to even try. I'm really sick of caring and working harder on my kids' lives than they do and still being accused of not caring. My 18 yo, who has informed me she's moving in with a friend and her family 2 hrs away next week (without a hs diploma) just invited me to go see High School Musical 3 with her and her 15 yo boy pal (which tells you the maturity level I'm dealing with here). I couldn't leave the rest of the kids alone to go which just gives her another reason to blame me for not having any time for her. Get this: she TOLD me she was moving, she ASKED PERMISSION to go to the movie - insanity I tell you. I don't know whether I should try to thwart this plan of hers or just let her go and crash because I KNOW this isn't going to end well either way. Part of me will be devastated for her to leave - I'm truly not finished raising this daughter of mine; another small part will be relieved that I get a break from her negativity and the rest of the kids won't experience her bullying. No one wins here. We both have a reason to be a little snarky today.
"I'm truly not finished raising this daughter of mine"
Lisa, That could be a book title describing our lives.
My husband and I have a theory - that babies could care less if they spit up on clothes from the Gap or clothes from Good Will. lol
Yard sales aren't just about the lower price anyway. Buying used is the best form of recycling.
Yup - and the Drama Llama's (that's what I have named our crew) at our house are busy too. Is it the FULL moon or what? Still in awe of you and your ability to go on - you are truly an inspiration to us smaller families. Your mom and dad did an awesome job raising you - and you are carrying on the tradition (modified of course with your kids. Remember the benefits come when they are older and as our olders tell me and big guy - You sure are smart since I got older...LOL Hang in there Cindy..keeping you in our prayers
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