Late Start Leads to 'Crack Up' On The Tracks ....

When a teenager volunteers for a job it involves more than just the opportunity to learn new things- front and center is the fact that it's yet another taxi dispatch job for overwhelmed Mom (ME).  This particular 'run' I am referring to is one of my scheduled standing assignments- it's been a process keeping an ADHD child 'on schedule', but my darling daughter knows the rules from having had 'jobs' like this since 11. Today she spent an inordinate amount of time on her own grooming regiment to then make taxi dispatcher (ME) wait & wait  :(   This 20 min. delay then led to my own barking lecture on obligation & responsibility (even if it is to only clean cages of exotic birds).  So the barking continues (ME) as I strategically determine the best route to navigate the many stop lights before me - afterall, I had time to make up.  As I forged ahead and  before we knew it, dead in front of us was the crossing gate for a very long freight train... so we could really be late.  Such an absurdity I just had to declare... 'Please tell me where the joy is in all this?' ... darling daughter is now breaking down and starting to laugh (her humor is pain-based) she then can't contain herself... cracking up at me (a rare occurrence) ... actual tears were running down her face.  I then had to add 'don't do this'  (parenting)...and 'I'll be too old anyway to enjoy grandchildren!'  more shaking laughter.... I guess we're bonding.  :) 
Sweet dreams, T.I.L.

ME (unfortunately)

Equal and Balanced Coverage - Murky Gene Pool 2

In an effort to write this blog with 'equal and balanced' coverage... darling son is next having come up through the ranks learning from the best, his older sister.  He has also along the way, developed his own techniques for destruction.  Beginning as a quiet terrorist-like scribbler ... bedroom walls, inside of my car (a black sharpie)... he then moved into paint. Once even taking rust-block paint made for grill repair and meticulously collaged gooey swipes on the side of my car.   Since I was nearby, (likely busy cleaning up another mess)  it was easy to conclude this kid was also very deliberate and swift.  Fortunately, my good neighbor friend came to the rescue with a big bottle of turpentine (for clean-up) not to drink.

Together they (my lovely children) worked as a force to perfect their 'talents' .... darling daughter was once hanging on a basement metal wrack in the basement to then find the TV on her head.  This idea then went upstairs to my four-poster bed that originally had a canopy top (what they call a 'tester')... good name, because together they were 'testing' the strength ... and before I could even imagine this scenario... I heard darling daughter  scream ...'Mommy... (nameless darling son) broke the bed' !! --- with further investigation, I learned that she applied her budding gymnastic skills to the top rail framing and as luck-would-happen it snapped when it was her brother's turn......   taa da

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