Well,
after the drama of the last two days, I was ready for a rest. I didn’t get it.
What a surprise. Things were hopping at work, and at home.
Alesia
had therapy today, and I don’t want to reveal what was discussed, but it was a
good session. Alesia has a good attitude about not making the soccer team, and
said she was angry initially but now she has decided she will just try out for
something else.
Michael
gave Mother a hard time about his homework today, but we have devised a scheme
to stop his attitude problems. Every day, he has to exhibit a good attitude,
get a good snack, and complete his homework, before I get home. If he does so,
he will get 30 minutes of Nintendo or TV once I get home. Granny has to check
things off the list, which is written on the kitchen calendar every day as a
visual reminder. If he fails to get 3 check marks, he doesn’t get that Nintendo/TV time. If
he fails to exhibit a good attitude, he also gets 5 points marked off.
He
also has to make more of an effort with his homework. If he pulls a stunt like
he did today, and just says “I can’t do that math. It’s too hard!” then he has
two choices. He first has to spend 5 minutes diligently trying to do it. Then,
if he still cannot get it, he can ask for help, but he has to do some extra
work to show he really understands. If he decides not to do it, or tries by himself and
it’s wrong, he risks getting a zero, and possibly failing a grade. That’s the
natural consequence. This puts the responsibility on him. Mother and I both
think he needs to do his own homework from now on. He must give it a good try
before asking us to help.
THE
LIGHTER SIDE
Some years ago a friend of mine went to see
KC and the Sunshine Band, and got a CD of their greatest hits autographed for
me. [Maybe one day I’ll list that on E-bay, and retire.] I play it sometimes
for Michael, because he listens to a CD every night as he’s falling asleep. So
he knows a lot of songs from my CD’s. He particularly likes Annie Lennox and Bonnie
Raitt.. Of course, he’d never admit to his friends that he’s knows a lot of his
mom’s fuddy duddy old music…
This morning we get in the car for me to
take him to school and he has monkeyed around and switched my radio over to
some nasty hard rock station. I listened to about 2 seconds of that nonsense
and popped it on the oldies station. The car was filled with the sounds of KC
singing That’s The Way I Like It [Uh huh uh huh] and Michael started singing
along and wriggling around in his seat, his little gyrating dance moves really
funny to see, well except for the pelvic thrusts. I just shook my head. “You
better not bust a move like that in front of Granny, Dude.”
He rolled his eyes.
I know all the words to this song! Can I
have 5 points?” he said, still wriggling.
“Uh, let me think… NO,” I replied.
I have been trying to bribe him into
learning the entire Lord’s Prayer by heart, with promises of points, but he
hasn’t been able to do it yet.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
A cousin of mine sent us some wonderful
pears from Harry & David.
The other night Alesia asked when dinner
would be ready and I said, not soon, eat a snack. I suggested she eat a pear.
She looked at me like I had suggested she bite off her own foot. “Why would I
do that, when there are Cheetos in the house?!” she replied.
Gosh, I dunno. I mentally cursed myself for
giving in and buying the stupid Cheetos.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
We’ve been watching Rob Roy, which is an
excellent movie. It’s a little tough for the kids to understand the Scottish
accents, but I can pause it and explain what’s happening when necessary. The
first little section of the movie has several love scenes with Liam Neeson and
Jessica Lange – all tastefully done, IMHO. Even wearing a kilt and a two day
beard growth, Liam Neeson is still incredibly attractive. I didn’t mind
watching those scenes.
Now, Alesia usually likes love stories.
However, after the second amorous scene, Alesia turned and looked at me and
said, completely incredulous, “Is that all they’re going to do through the
whole movie?!”
I thought for a moment. “You know, they
didn’t have TV in 1718,” I replied. “Not much to do for fun.” I thought I was
being funny.
She nodded. “OK. I see,” she said, dead serious.
