Supportive Blog Friends - Success; Attemp to be Snarky - Fail

Thank you for your wonderful and supportive comments on my last post. I was attempting to be snarky, not looking for an outpouring of encouragement. But I'll take it!


Just wanted to let you know that my husband did co-sign on the loan, so I did receive it. It's still annoying that I once bought two different houses and three cars on my own without any help. It is really sad that taking time out to give my kids a firm foundation doesn't bring any value to the market place. Sigh. But it is what it is.

* * * * * * * * *

Scott was out of town all week on a business trip. I dreaded the week alone as a single mom, especially anticipating Jonathan's homework battles during the week. Usually Scott and I divide and conquer. He takes Faith, the easy one.  I take Jonathan and sit down with him. I have to stop everything I'm doing and just sit at the table with Jonathan. My sole job is to say every five minutes, "Jonathan, sit down and do your homework." Forty minutes worth of homework takes about 90 to 120 minutes. Jonathan will get up to go to the bathroom, because his evening constitution is in the middle of homework. During those 10 or 20 minutes I call every five minutes while he's in the bathroom, "Jonathan, are you done yet?" When he's at the table (or underneath it), every five minutes, I point at his paper and say, "Jonathan, do the next problem."

Jonathan: I don't have homework this week because of MSAs. (Maryland State Assessments, which are tests to report on the teachers and schools ability to teach.)

Me: God is good!

Jonathan: God doesn't give MSAs.

Me: Yes, but Who is ultimately in control of MSAs?

Jonathan: Touché

Where doesn't he get things like "touché"? Anyway, God was indeed good. I didn't have to fight Jonathan all week to do homework. That saved me about 90 minutes of time and stress.

* * * * * * * * *

God knew what kind of week I'd have. Monday night I took my older son to an urgent care center. I called my parents, who live locally, to come watch Jonathan and Faith and get them to bed. Turns out Josh was okay, but the doctor did give him two weeks of "no sports." That lasted less than 24 hours before Joshua ignored doctor's orders.

* * * * * * * * * 

Tuesday night both Joshua and Jonathan had emotional and physical meltdowns. It got ugly. I called a good friend of the family to come over and intervene. However, Josh settled down enough on his own so I called my friend back and told him not to come over. Jonathan woke me up about four times in the middle of the early morning with stomach pains. I suspect the pains had more to do with Joshua's emotional meltdown than real sickness. (Regardless, we were both tired and dragging the next morning.)

* * * * * * * * *

Wednesday morning I forgot to give Jonathan his ADHD medication. It was apparent Wednesday afternoon. That night, we were supposed to have our weekly in home Bible Study; however,  one family had a family emergency, another family was sick, and Scott was out of town. I called my friend who was going to lead the group and told him he had the night off. And once again God was good to us. After several days of crisis, the family needed a quiet night of normal routines.

* * * * * * * * *

Thursday, morning marked 36 hours of no ADHD medication for Jonathan. It would've been funny, if it weren't so frustrating. He was back to being a sloth during the morning routine. He just stood and stared for long periods because he didn't remember what to do next. That night I had a networking function with local businesses. I was a little nervous about leaving Josh at home with his younger siblings after his emotional outburst earlier in the week. But everyone seemed to do well. Jonathan is hating school again. I think it has to do with the fact that he's been in testing all week AND the school moved his recess to the end of the day. Don't ask. The decision only makes sense to the school which made it. For Jonathan, it's too long without a break.

* * * * * * * * *

Friday morning I talked to the school VP about scheduling a break for Jonathan sometime late morning. She was very understanding and supportive. She promised to remedy it by Monday. Friday night, hubby came home late dinner time. Josh had a house full of his teenage friends to watch the Washington Capitols Ice Hockey game. Scott came in, put down his briefcase and luggage and immediately took me out for dinner. He took me to my favorite Mexican restaurant and ordered an eight ounce glass of white wine. Don't you just love a man who knows what his wife needs after a week of being a single parent? I know I'm spoiled.