errands

Errands is just another word for work. Except this work is done, primarily, in the car. And out of the car. And back in the car, out of the car, in the car... you get the picture. Today's errands involve taking Emily to Occupational therapy, speech (thankfully, in the same office), lunch, bowling, and then a trip all the way across town to take back a library book someone borrowed for me. Home through evening traffic and then done for the night. At least the errands today don't involve buying anything that will have to be hauled into the house and put away.

I try to plan all my errands for a day or two out of each week so that I can stay home the rest of the time. If all goes as planned today I won't have to move the car until I leave for church tomorrow evening. And Friday will be a day at home all day and all night! We're having friends over for dinner on Saturday so I may be required to go to the store for provisions but I can put that off until the day of.

My husband, the Hero, is the one who brings in the paycheck. I am the one that manages it and spends it for the necessities of living in this world. I don't wish to have a fulltime job but it would be nice, from time to time, if someone else would do all these errands. The Hero has never done errands. He just gives me his list on his way out the door to go to work. This is work, too. Maybe more work than the one he does.

Parenting sheltered children

I really thought I had done a good job parenting these two kids we're raising. I have children who use manners, help out when forced, follow the rules when threatened - you know, typical good kids.

I sent the teen up to visit and help out his favorite aunt for a couple or three weeks. The report, so far (there's still another 10 days before he comes home)isn't looking so good:

* He shot a blast of air at his 5-yr-old cousin's head with his unloaded paintball gun.

* He shot out a couple of the barn windows with his cousins bb gun.

* He broke the sun tea jars.

* He took his other 5-yr-old cousin for a ride on the atv, forgot there was a dog leash tied to the bumper, tangled it around a root and when it broke free caused said 5-yr-old to need stitches in his head (chain on the end swung up and hit him).

* While waiting at the ER with his cousin while the other cousin got stitches he rough-housed a bit and his cecostomy tube was pulled out. This is a big deal because we don't know if anyone can put in a new one, he didn't have his foley catheter with him, and they're at a small podunk hospital in the middle of nowhere.

The boy needs to come home so I can beat some sense into him. Seriously, he doesn't act this way at home. I may have to take part of the blame because we've been home schooling him and he's not exposed to a lot of kids like he's been. Looks like I'm going to have to seriously limit his television time and video games.

My daughter says this kind of stuff only happens when the responsible parent - her - is away for the evening.