I'm back (again!)

Because I'm talking to myself in this blog, I'm going to ask the question...'Who in the world came up with the term 'Sweet 16'? I think it's pure sarcasm ! Well today my over-welcome first born - still sassy and medicated daughter is turning 'Sour 16' --- I should start a line of party decorations! It seems no matter what - her family is horrible and stupid (until she needs a ride or $) then in return, we get an abbreviated 'smile' and sometimes a thank you. To think, I am still starring at the muffin-top that is a result of this human is amazing to me... where is the fun in this? She has been high-maintenance since being born 9 days early and a whooping 9 lb. 14 oz. !
Looking back, her early years (like when she couldn't walk or talk) were the times I most cherish......after that, things became a blur with flashes of her jumping on the bed with a toilet plunger next to me when I was pregnant with her brother... to shooting me in the eye with a foam disc that her Grandmother thought would be a fun gift. This kid has been 'work' from the minute she started walking. I also distinctly remember trying to get her off the monkey bars at the park - not even two- had to threaten to drive away - the joke was on me, as I watched her wave to me from my rear view mirror... should have known then to drive away! (kidding)

Hit the Road...or the Garage!

Ok, I'll attempt to talk about my new teen driver, but I'm still a little shaky.... It's a tough one.... sassy unpredictable daughter now becomes sweet helpful child when in her mind, it's time to 'go driving' - a couple of nights ago she sweet-talked my good sport husband into driving after he had relaxed a bit with a glass of wine. She is such a suck-up....Her meds have worn off by then so you really take your life into your hands....Because there are many times when he doesn't think either, he 'let' her BACK his car out of the garage so she could bash the front left side of it into the garage separating column.....He was pissed and actually surprised by this action which is quite remarkable since like me, he has experienced her trying to back out of the open driveway to either run into the side bushes or small stone wall on the other side almost every time!.... and to compound things on this situation... good sport husband was RIGHT THERE outside the car directing her!... The two of them are quite a combo. It's stunning to me and when he got a quote of $500 to 'fix' it (the white paint scrape looked particularily 'loud' on his black car) I almost bashed his head in with that idea. Repairs on this car are not a priority as I rubbed the paint scrape off. We're just starting on this 'journey'! (unfortunately) :)

I'm back!

I know it's been awhile...will be getting back into the swing of things hopefully sooner than later. Yesterday's calamities reminded me of my earlier posts. The wild adventures of my kids...yikes.... I should have known when I started my day (1st thing) watching my son playing with my salad spinner while relaxing on my new couch. huh? I should have known it was a preview for the rest of the day. His behavior is nervous energy ...the sound of the spinning (much like his brain) before his meds kick in. Some days, it's hard to tell though, if the meds have had any effect whatsoever.....makes me wonder when just a short time later I asked him to deliver a gallon of paint upstairs to my painter and to put a 'test' quart in his sister's room. He apparently put the quart on its side (who does that? ) ! and yes, the paint leaked all over her carpet. Fortunately, and this never happens to me, I had ordered new carpet for delivery this week so my head didn't explode.... now I can continue writing.... and next up.... teen (ADHD)drivers! OMG... I've been in denial hoping I can calm down enough to write my thoughts on that subject. One thing is for sure, my daughter is going to win a special award for the hundreds of 'permit' hours she is going to rack up...no chance I'm letting her loose on this one...not for years!

Ready for Flight! (and it's not me)

I'm so tired of kids- I really miss my days when they have a definite routine and are busy with school....it's my luck they will have nothing to do with overnight camp! Lately it's been like a brush fire of mess and within the smoldering of all this, they follow me around the house so it's hard to fully extinguish. I am absolutely perplexed how my sassy unpredictable teenage daughter can fully trash the kitchen just like a toddler! Because I don't want to deal with her before I've had at least 2 cups of coffee, I quietly clean it up. (I know it's wrong to do that- but you would too) Then I finally tippy toe downstairs with my first cup for some peace in my little hovel in the basement now called my 'studio' to recover, and yep, she found me ! They really do have radar! I often wonder about this idea of 'Empty Nest Syndrome' --HUH? whoever coined that phrase as a 'problem' didn't live with my kids. I'm already thinking about changing the locks when they finally leave for college if they don't go to prison first.

To Leak or Not to Leak

Thought I might get back to babbling to myself through this blog... it's been a tough week! I've been in leaky-basement-denial for months (or is it years) and because the weather is now fairly decent I decided the time was right to rip up the carpet & pad. I have suspected the water point-of-entry to be our no-drain window well. Through the years I've also learned this type of 'work' makes my children run like rats off a ship so after scrubbing the floor with Clorox myself and then putting the 2nd coat of epoxy paint down... I felt a sense of accomplishment. Even had a proud moment that my son 'agreed' to help me by rinsing out my large water vacuum with the hose in the front yard. Because he had also 'helped' the day before (for a bit) ...he was ready for 'pay-day' -- another DS game .....it's like putting quarters in a vending machine! We were gone several hours doing a million errands including his reward. It was a good time to leave because the fan was running to dry the newly painted floor. Then true to my mantra, of everything simple must be complicated by something stupid that usually involves my family, we returned to a flooded front yard compliments of the hose that had been left ON (by my helpful son) it then built up pressure and blew off the hose-wheel rack leaking into the window well and flooding the newly painted floor. So now my suspicion was confirmed! That my ADHD son was completely distracted and didn't finish his job.... oh I mean, that the water was coming in from that 'spot' ...... to be continued (unfortunately) !

An Exercise Hottie.....

There's nothing more motivating than being in an exercise class with a bunch of women talking about their 'periods' ... for me, that subject is past-tense, but there are still days when I just 'fake' it like I can relate. Well… I can relate to the mood swings and bloating- that’s for sure! In my ‘Boot Camp’ exercise class, I'm huffing and puffing talking myself out of a hot flash, practically killing myself, thinking if I can kinda keep up then they won't know how freak'n old I am. It’s a game I play with myself, a reality challenge.

In our family age-faking has been a tradition since my late 30's - my own mother has been lying about MY age for years so I have learned from the best. Because I birthed children at a more mature age, I can almost get away with it (and so can she) .....The problem is, when you do that- you’ve got to keep up the image while still seriously working off ‘baby fat’ in their teen years. That part sucks. I was a producer of a 10 lb baby that began with a full load of infertility drugs as the foundation. Not only is my metabolism f---ked, but my energy is lower which is a bit problematic in the weight-loss business. It's also survival for my, I have to work out to minimally keep up with an ADHD family.

It has been interesting to be at the opposite end of the child rearing spectrum- when my same-age best friend was on a college tour with her son, I was potty training my son! I know I’m not alone in this endeavor, I’ll just have to find some friends my own age to work out with, but one thing’s for sure, I will always keep lathering up on wrinkle cream- the kind with preservatives in it!