Wednesday 15 May 2013

Disconnection

Life is full of time wasters that don't build good relationships with people around you.  I see how much my family watches tv and it has gotten out of control.  I see how much the kids play their video games - not enough according to them - and it's spiraling the wrong way.  Internet usage is blowing out the roof here.  There is an easy, yet difficult fix to two of these things.  As of today my internet is being cancelled.  As of May 27th my tv will also be cancelled.  I have already warned the kids that their game remotes will do just fine sitting in my locker at work if that continues to be a problem.

The air is sort of trying in a way to be nice outside.  It's time to get more fresh air, more family time.  As a family we use to love being outside.  We use to love doing things together.  It all seems to be slipping away the more and more the screens are on.  We had a talk last night and it's hard to admit that the kids don't know the last time they did something to help each other out.  Finally after thinking about it for a bit they came up with a couple things - from long ago.  When I asked them though when the last time they yelled/fought with each other they new it was that day and the previous.  I can't control what my kids watch when they aren't home but not having tv here will sure control what they see here.

I told them I want them to be able to smile when they leave the house to go to school.  Not because they have to go to school but because the had a great morning before leaving the house.  I have set a rule, although those who know me know I hate rules, that there can be no fighting or yelling at each other in the mornings and as people come home you can't say anything bad or tattle on anyone for at least 10 minutes.  We need to make it a welcome home for anyone coming back.  Their friends already think of our home as a safe home.  Some of them want to be here regularly because they prefer it over the drama in theirs.  If their friends think that I know i'm doing something right, or they have extremely messed up homes.  I want this to feel like a safe home for anyone who visits and not one where people don't get along because they never talk.  One where people aren't interested in only themselves and making sure that they get as much tv or computer time as they can.

To this I say good luck to my readers (well one reader I know of at least) and I will be on from the library when I can.  I won't forget you.

Wednesday 1 May 2013

Will it end?

I know it's not just us but much of the country.  But will it ever just go away and stay away for a few months?  The weather this Spring has been crazy to say the least.  When we do get some nice weather, we are reminded of where we live and get snow to follow it up.  Our snow was almost gone and then a couple weeks ago we had white out conditions and horrible weather.  Woke up the next morning to snow everywhere again.  It melted and people were out in shorts and t-shirts this past weekend and enjoying Spring, finally.  Hope they haven't packed away their winter clothing though because we are to be hit with another dumping tomorrow. A few days later it should be warmer again though.

I can handle snow and cold but by this time of the year it would be nice if it was gone.  The kids have worn out or out grown their snow pants and boots.  I'm not buying new ones this year because this crap should be gone.  There is one store I can get pants to fit my son properly and I can't do that because they are constantly out of his size due to our never-ending Winter we are having.  I would love to just put all the winter stuff away and pull out the summer clothes but it just won't end.  Problem is, the kids have missed wearing shorts, sandals, t-shirts that they will wear them even if it isn't weather appropriate to me.  One of those battles that I don't like having so I hold out until it can be avoided.  Some of the clothes have made it out and they are worn regularly but the two offenders know if they are going to under dress they are, under no circumstances, to complain to me that they are cold - even if they are turning blue.  If the weather would just co-operate with me, this wouldn't be an issue.

Friday 12 April 2013

Fun and frustration

It happened.  I got away for three days and nights for some relaxation time.  The first night we stayed at the casino.  They had amazing ribs for supper and I lost no money - I used what they gave me and that's it.  Monday morning we woke up to heavy wet snow.  Why must it always snow when I want to go with my mom and why is it still snowing into April?  The roads were fantastically plowed though and we made our way to Duluth.  The shopping as pretty good and I found alot of good deals and things we can't get here that the kids would enjoy.  Decent weather there and none of the snow they called for - until the day after we arrived home.  I stayed well under my limit for what I could bring home too!  We went to Red lobster for supper and wow - not sure where we fit it all.  I had a lovely pasta with crap and lobster sauce plus two lobster tails.  My mom had two kinds of shrimp, a lobster tail and crab legs.  I sat very patiently as she carefully got ALL the crab out of each one.  I'm impressed on how precise she is - she didn't miss a bit.  That was my birthday gift to her.  This was the fun part of the week.

When I arrived home Duncan ran up and gave me kisses after the kids.  He is our German Sheppard.  Then came a beagle to give me kisses and boy can he kiss.  That's Max - a dog I had no idea we were getting.  It was rushed to surprise me.  To me it was $300 out the window - he came with nothing, not fixed and one of the most irresponsible purchases possible.  No thought on how we would afford his vet bills or food or anything else with him.  I admit he is a cute dog but one we didn't need.  He came from income tax and a little more money because my father was told by the buyer "it's my money and I can do what I want with it".  Problem is this person doesn't have an income more than the family bills to buy the extras for a dog so now that has to come out of my extra, which I don't think is fair.  I have notes to say that I don't have to work because my husband doesn't want to be home alone.  I chose to so I could have extra money to do things and life a little easier.  We each pay half the bills and that uses up all "his" money plus what I get for the kids. The luxuries of eating out, going to a movie, shopping all comes from what I get from work.  I think owning a pet should be a joint decision and equal paying for it and it's not now.  It's so frustrating.  I hate feeling like this but I do and it happens all too often lately.  Feeling frustrated with my life, feeling like I can't do anything for myself without stuff like this happening (last time my charge cards were racked up when I was gone 18 months ago), feeling like I have 5 kids most of the time and not 4.  I want to have 2 responsible adults in the house to go with the 4 kids, 2 dogs and 3 cats.


Friday 29 March 2013

Easter


This is the time of year when I celebrate Jesus dying on the cross for us.  Of course the chocolate gets in there as week and we do the whole Easter Bunny part of it as well.  My children know the true meaning of the holidays -  Christmas and Easter - so I don't feel bad about it.  I do find though that all holidays throughout the year have become way to commercialized.  My goal for Easter this year was to keep things low-key.  Which I almost did.  Each kid has skittles, a chocolate bunny and a couple SMALL things for their basket.  Plus of course the Easter egg hunt Sunday morning.  I also bought 3 remotes and two games for their PS3 which will be a joint gift for all of them.  For me this is alot less than I have been.   Even the hidden eggs have been cut in half if not less.  We also skipped the city wide egg hunt.  I didn't miss that part at all.  When my kids wake up Sunday morning they will likely be surprised that the "bunny" cut back but I want them to know what they get isn't important as what they have.  They have a warm/cool home, plenty of food and more love than they can imagine.  They have everything they need and it's time for them to stop having so many extras.  As nice as it is to give them whatever they want, they need to learn to earn some of it as well.  When questions come up as to why the lack of gifts I will let them know that maybe they should check their behavior and willingness to help out around the house.  It will be a reinforcement of Jesus dying for us plus a lesson in respect and working together this year.

I wish all my friends and family the most blessed Easter as I leave you with one of my favourite songs from this time of the year.

Friday 22 March 2013

End of the week?

It seems that many people do nothing all weekend, every weekend.  I, on the other hand, work most weekends.  People are always telling cashiers to enjoy their weekend off.  In reality if it wasn't for us you would have no where to shop.  I don't know if it's like this everywhere, but people in my fine city can't go a day without shopping.  Next weekend - for example - will be pandemonium all around, not only are we closed Friday but we have the nerve to shut down two days later on Sunday as well.  Easter weekend is one, of a very few, that I get off - all 4 days, from work.  I will not go shopping on Saturday or Monday unless absolutely needed and plan on doing what I can to avoid that.  Those days will be crazy.

Today, for me, is not the end of the week.  I don't have a day off work until Tuesday.  By this, I mean my money paying job.  My best job kicks in when i'm not at Home Depot.  I comes with hugs, kisses, love, smiles and of course our fair share of attitude.  So I work non-stop, I don't get a day off very often, forget about weekends, they are just other days to spend with my kids or head out to work.

I'm waiting for April when I get to run away for some retail therapy - with no kids and no work.  That will be my weekend.  3 days and 3 nights in the States with no worries about anything until I get home to see the chaos that occurred.

Monday 18 March 2013

Start of things again

Blogs aren't always the easiest thing to write.  Some days you want to scream and yell and go off without thinking of what the consequences could be.  I'm going to attempt not to do this.  It will be a place to just deal with life as we know it.  My life is different from other peoples, definitely different from yours, whoever you may be that is reading this.  Part of my life may be the same.

I have my little family who mean the world to me.  It consists of athletes, dancers, Air Cadets and grown ups.  Of course the kids fit into more than one category.  They seem to be who my world revolves around lately.  Then come the four-legged friends.  Three of them meow and two bark.  I can say this because Jersey, who is most definitely a cat, was barking at us when he saw the dog.  He also talks, people talk when he gets really mad/scared about our only dog.  Duncan is new to the family, he's been here less than a month.  I'm not a dog person but he's grown on me.  Wish I could say the same for the cats - who still aren't sure about the monster that I brought into the house.  They like to sneak around and watch the dog from a distance and every now and then will pop up over the side of the bed and smack him one before diving back under.

I love my family, humans and animals alike, and wouldn't trade them in for anything.  I try to be positive in life and find something to be thankful for each day.  Hopefully here will help keep things in perspective and interesting.