Snow Days

I have been in the house since January 25, 2011 thanks to the weather man. He started the week by stating we would get a dusting of snow, to 1 inch of snow, and finally 2-3 inches of snow. Well, we got more. I wasn't upset. After all what better way to celebrate your birthday - in the house on a snow day. Not just one day, I was Blessed with 3 whole days of bliss - oh, so I thought. I spent 3 days home with my Man-child.

Being home with Man-child on the first day was ok. He shoveled the snow, I cooked, and then we went to our corners (bedroom) and left each other alone. By day 2, the problem begins. He begins to eat every 2 hours. Just as I reached for the last slice of devil's food cake, he takes it. All of the kool-aid is gone, my snack crackers and chips. Then, he starts to eat the healthy food - yogurt, carrot sticks, salad, fruit cups and the rice cakes. I just smile and reason that being in the house is a good thing.

Later in the evening, here comes Man-child with a question "Do you know what I can do?" Well, it's snowing again. I tell him you can go out and shovel, go visit your friends or you can invite someone over for a few hours. He just looks at me and walks away. Then he starts pacing the floor like a caged animal. So I tell him - "why don't you do your laundry, clean your room or walk the dog". He looks at me like I grew another head. In the meantime, I am relaxed with not a care in the world.

Day 3 begins to get to me. He jumps in bed with me. Whew.. . "When was the last time you took a shower?" He looks at me like I am crazy and says "I'm not going any where". True - but we have to live here. Then he wants to lie his head in my lap and watch TV. All I want to do is read. I tell him -go get the playing cards. He doesn't want to do that. So I tell him - show me again how to play guitar wars -he says no because I still can't hold the guitar right. So I asked to play something else and he gives me 10 reasons why I can't play (and I hate to admit it, he was right on all counts). OK.. let's get dressed and go to the mall or movies. He doesn't want to do that either. Now, I am truely sick and frustrated. I go back to my room and say the Heck with it - I tried.

Today is Saturday. I am watching him eat and talk on the telephone. As much as I love snow days, I don't ever want to be in house with him this long again. Pray I make it throught the rest of the weekend.

Back to Normal - I Think

2010 was a very difficult year for me. It began with the tragic death of my brother and it simply seemed to spirial down ward. I had to handle all of my brother's affairs, lost my part-time job, furlough days with the full-time job, crazy debt collectors calling, fighting to keep my house out of foreclosure, house repairs, keeping track of my Mom's medications and appointments, needy relatives, work drama, being turned down for six jobs, weight gain, and sooo much more. I was on the verge of losing it mentally, physically and spiritually. For me, I often take on projects that take my mind off of my problems. Even more, I was concerned about the affects it all had on Man-child. Despite it all, he made the honor roll and has been his regular self.

2011 has gotten off to a mild start. I am still job hunting -for both full and part-time jobs. I took the plunge and cut my hair. How is Man-child? OK. His room is a mess, he refuses to cut his hair and I am usually receive one word answers to all questions asked. I generally have learned to back off unless it is absolutley necessary. He keeps quiet but I've noticed that when I am upset or agitated with someone, mainly family, he speaks up and manages to get between me and the problem (person). Hmmmmmmmm.....

We are already more that 20 days into the new year. I don't know where or what will happen. My Faith is strengthen and I am sort of rejuvenated. Back to normal we go - I think. :-)

Man-child and the Lie Part II

Once I got home from dropping Man-child off, I was angry. I thought I should have stayed and just made his night terrible. Instead, I sat home watching the clock. I kept going over the conversation in my head and I could not believe he tried to pull a quick on me. But I wanted to be ready to to meet this girl's momma. I pulled my hair back in a ponytail, changed my shirt, grabbed the short jacket and scarf and I jumped in the car.

A trip that usually takes thirty minutes I think only took me twenty minutes. I parked the car in front of the threatre to make sure I would not miss them coming out (and you know I was a little ticked off with that security guard who kept telling me to move my car). Man-child and Olympus walked out of the threatre holding hands. Pleeasssse. When he noticed the car he came running with this big grin on his face and said "Ma, Imma catch the subway with Olympus and her friend". That's when I noticed the other girl. Where did she come from. I told Man-child "Oh no, it's already 7:45 and by the time you get home it will be late. I don't mind taking your friends home. Get in NOW!!. Olympus says "My mother doesn't like for me to ride in cars with strangers so I'll catch the subway". I am sitting there thinking "Who the Hell do you think you are fooling?" I gave her my cell phone and said " Sweetie, call you MOM and let me talk to her cause it's really not a problem and I want to make sure you are safe". By this time Man-child is looking worried and the other girl was looking in the sky for a miracle.

Olympus called her Mom. I told her that I was at the threatre and I would bring her home since it was late. The Mom said "Thank you but she can get the subway home. I'll have her step-dad pick her up at the last stop". Again, I told her that it was cold and it was really no problem. She insisted that I take her daughter to the subway. I said ok. I drove them to a subway station - not the one around the corner cause I still was not satisfied - I wanted some answers. The other young lady was her friend, Angel, who just happened to be there with someone else and decided to go home with Olympus. Hmmmmmmmm....... No one said anything in the car. When we got to the subway station, Man-child walked them to the entrance and gave Olympus a hug. YUCK!!

When we got home, Man-child was so happy. I just looked at him. I asked him "I wonder why I could not take her home? Don't you think that is strange?" He just said "I don't want to get mixed up in their family business". Well what in the hell is that supposed to mean?? I sat Man-child down and told him " You have to be careful who you choose to get involved with. This doesn't sound or appear right at all. And before you decided to go on anymore dates, or whatever you want to call you better check out the parents, brothers, sisters, friends and anybody else they know. And the next time something like this occurs, it will NOT be Pretty". He just gave me a hug and said "I sorry".. Yeah right, until next time.

Man-child and the Lie Part 1

I always know when Man-child is up to something - he volunteers to do things. This morning after he helped my mom and her friends at the market, he raked 6 bags of leaves, gave Rosa a bath, and cleaned the bathroom. I am just waiting ....

The phone rings and he takes it into his room. BINGO!!!! After ten minutes, he comes out of his room, gives me hug and says "Hey Ma, need me to do anything else". Without looking at him I said "spill it". Pay attention to this conversation.....

"Well, if it's ok - I wanted to go to the movies with my friends"

"What friends, Geoff?

"Oh, You don't them".

"Why don't I know them? How do you know them and what movies are you going to?"

"The one in Owings Mills to see Harry Potter. We were going to catch the subway".

"So, how many is we and who are you going with?"

"Ummmm, well I was going to meet Olympus at the movies".

"I thought you said it was a few kids going. Now it's just you and Olympus?!!

"Well, I am not really sure if they can all go but Olympus called and said she can go".

"So, how did we get from a bunch of kids to just one? what makes you think you can go on a date.

"It's not a date .. I just told her we could go to the movies for her birthday".

"If it's not a date, then what do you call it? And why hasn't her mother called to talk to me?"

Ok... so now my dandruff is up. Did he really think I was born yesterday. After went over his story again, He confessed that he promised to take her to the movies. There were others kids that were going to go but now they can't. So, what made him think I was going to allow him to go. After giving him the evil eye, I had to really yell at Man-child. First, don't ever give me Half-truths, don't make plans unless you check with me first, and don't make promises you can't keep.

Brrrrinnnnggggg.. Phone call for Geoff. Miss Olympus is at the theatre waiting for him. I really wanted to tell the young lady to GO HOME. I drove him to the theatre. Olympus said her mother knew she was meeting him at the movie theatre and she was to go directly home after it ended. Well... she certainly will .. cause I'll be at the movies waiting when it lets out so that I can take her home and meet this Momma.

Man-Child Is Going To KILL ME, But.....

This past weekend, I was not feeling well. Everything just seemed to be weighing very heavily on my shoulders. I decided to stay in and do nothing. I had a few errands to do and finally forced myself to get up in the afternoon. Man-child went with me.

Once I got out of the house and some fresh air in my lungs, I felt a little better. Man-child made me laugh and reminded me of how much fun we sometimes have together. After eating our take-out food, we got settled for a night in front of the TV. While sitting on the bed, man-child asked me why was the skin peeling on his feet. My response, "you probably have athlete's feet". After going going back and forth, I ended giving my son a pedicure. That's right.. he got my foot messager from the closet, we soaked his feet, scrubbed, trimmed his nails... he got the works. Next, he asked how could he get rid of the black heads on his face. In the bathroom I go and I get the face mask scub. I covered his face and told him to leave it on for 20 minutes then wash his face.

While he is sitting there, my mom comes in to the room and fell on the floor laughing. There was Man-child with his feet soaking with coconut face scrub on his face. I had to admit .. It was Funny. After we lotioned his feet, washed the mask from his face and I cut the hair on the back of his neck, he went back to his computer and I picked up a book.

Just goes to show, I don't need a daughter. Don't tell him I told ya :-)

The Evolution of Man-Child

A few weeks ago, Man-child told me that he wanted to attend his Sophmore Ball. Well, he has never shown any interest in attending anything like this. I thought "My child's a nerd, he'll never want to do that". There I was with egg on my face. Then, I almost had a stroke when he said, very proudly with his chest up high, "I already have a date". WHAT.... A date???? First, he just turned 15- what makes him think he is ready to date. Ok.. so now I am huffin' and puffin' and working myself up. After I can down about 20 notches, I realized it's just a dance in the school.

Next, I go up to the school to check her out. I should be ashamed but I am not. The young lady was very polite and cute. My heart is still beating fast. I am just not sure I am ready for this yet. I mean - "Man-child dating". I never thought about it. That is when I began to notice the change or evolution in Man-child.

For the last three weeks, Man-child has been doing exercises in the morning and at night. He spent his money on leg weights and he wears them around the house. He has been brushing his teeth and now he takes a toothbrush with him to school. Man-child has started to comb the peach fuzz on his chin. The boy ironed his shirt three days straight (the pants were still wrinkled though). Could all of this be becuase of his DATE and The Dance. Hmmmmm..... What put the icing on the cake was when he asked me what type of bouquet he should get. HOLD UP.. WAIT A MINUTE .. it is just a dance right?. Do you even buy them for dances?

Then I thought about it. And I thought about it. Ok...this is a new side of my child. As my sistah friend, Dee, reminded me "He is now MORE MAN than CHILD". How the HECK did that happen. On the surface and in my heart, I am not ready for this new level of maturity or what ever you want to call it. I still see my baby. I guess I always will. Yet, I am excited about where this new step will take us. But for now, y'all please don't go too far cause I really need a lot of shoulders to keep me up right now. :-)

Right To Privacy

A few days ago, I was listening to the Michael Baisden show on the radio. The topic was "How much privacy should you allow your kids to have". I was surprised at a lot of the responses from kids and parents. Many of the kids threatened their parents -"they better not touch my touch". Parents who said they only looked at things that were left out or open. Hmmmmmm.... Michael Baisden asked "if it were a matter of life and death would you search your child's room". Again, the responses were varied and they were out there.

Well, let me say this.. I go thru Man-child's room, his back-pack, his closet, the dresser, and under the bed. I read his text messages on his phone. I go thru the history on his computer to see the sites he visits. I also discuss everything I find with him and the reason why I continue to do so.

If you don't know what your child is doing, how can you complain when they do something you don't agree with. I asked Man-child what he thought about me going thru his things and he said "that's what parents are supposed to do". When I asked him to explain "he said that some kids lie to their parents and the parents have to know what their kid is doing". When I asked him if it bothered him, he just hunched his shoulders.

What do you think?