I forgot to write about something
significant yesterday.
I had to get gas in Mother’s car,
and Michael had just been awake from his nap a short time. I had gotten him to
eat half a banana at home – I ate the other half. He wanted something else,
though. So we get to Quick Trip, and I am thinking about his phobia about going
into stores alone.
He doesn’t like to go in stores
alone. I don’t know why. He said in Kazakhstan clerks in stores would sometimes
be mean. Likely in his village he was known as the son of a woman who sometimes
stole things from stores. I have explained to him numerous times that clerks in
stores here won’t be mean to him. He didn’t believe me.
I turned to him after shutting off
the car engine. “I need to put gas in the car. I want you to go in the store
and get what you want for a snack, by yourself. I can go with you, but if that
happens I’m not going to be in a good mood and I will make you hurry.”
He looked thoughtful. He hates to be
hurried. “OK, I’ll go alone,” he said. I gave him some money and prayed nobody
would say anything to him.
He came back with two sticks of beef
jerky. Not what I would’ve chosen, but whatever. The fact he could go in there
alone and buy something is a breakthrough!
He ate one and put the other one in
his room. Alesia hoards food, too. I just ignore it. They are both healthy, and
don’t have bad teeth, so I let it go. It’s a comfort thing for them. They spent
so many years hungry, they need the reassurance of food close by.
I had to get tough with Michael this
afternoon. I spend a lot of time at the computer, and he likes to come in and
drape himself over me, and be cuddled. I am OK with that some of the time, but
not all the time. If I am in my room he also wants to be in there. Today I had
to fuss at him to get him to go entertain himself. I hated doing it, but I needed
to concentrate.
Mike also wanted to play computer
games on the kids’ computer, and I told him before he could do that he had to
vacuum the family room, put out the recycling, and read for 30 minutes. He was
not a happy camper, but he got it all done. Maybe he was irritated more than
usual because I had to tell him that he needs to do 4 pages in his bridge book
every weekday this summer in order to complete it. I also want him to read
every day for 30 minutes. Summer is not as carefree as he’d like it to be. I am
trying to instill in both kids an understanding of the fact we have work time
and play time. You have to work to earn play time. I think it’s an important
life lesson.
I have been telling him he cannot
play sports unless he can get all his homework done in a reasonable time, and
that needs to happen every day. Schoolwork comes first and must be done
independently and correctly or no sports. He loves sports, so it’s his
incentive.
Alesia has picked up a couple of
jobs for the next few days feeding the neighbors’ cats while they are out of
town. She is responsible and does it without being reminded. It’s another good
way to build esteem and confidence in her.
We are going tomorrow to get a
letter from her school saying she’s a full-time student, so she can get her learner’s
permit.
I spent some time this afternoon
applying for a job. I look every day but I don’t always find any worth
pursuing. I am not worried. Something will work out.
I made Pioneer Woman’s Crash Hot Potatoes for
dinner, along with barbequed ribs and a salad. The potatoes were awesome. The
ribs turned out OK. Any meat I can throw in the slow cooker on low all day is a
winner.
Michael ate a hearty dinner, and got
up from the table saying cautiously “I’m full for now!”. I asked him if he
had saved room for dessert. He got a twinkle in his eye and pointed to the side
of his belly and said, “Give me a little while, and I’ll clear some room!”
Sure enough, after about 15 minutes
of the movie he asked for dessert.
