Great Mother

So after writing the Horrible Mother blog (and crying a little), I felt better, and Daniel, after being upstairs in his room and doing his own thing (which included a little craft and playing with he Pokemon cards), was happy again.  I gave him a big hug and appologized for losing my patience.  And later, when he did spelling again (with his Dad) he got all the words right!  We did it again this morning with a little struggle, but hardly anything to worry about, and all was fine.  We had to start doing spelling every day after his grades started to slump.  And I'm happy to say that he's doing better now.

I was contented this morning when Daniel and I cuddled on the couch while discussing the morning's news out of Japan. 

He's a great kid.  And I'm a great mother.  I have my lost patience moments, and yesterday was one of them.  But I remain honest with him - I tell him that my patience is gone and that I really need for him to concentrate or not fool around - and he's pretty good at doing that.  But somehow, after I tell him this, it makes it easier for me to be patient.  Just acknowledging it allows us both the freedom to deal with it.  I also tell him that doing spelling is not fun for either of us, but that in order for him to get good grades and get through school comfortably, we have to do the homework.  (I believe yesterday it came out harsher than that like:  "oh yeah, and spelling is just great fun for me, too, with all your tears and fighting" - his comment:  "I think that's sarcasm, isn't it?")

And when my mood is off, I tell him that, too.  I explain that it has nothing to do with him, that it's just my brain.  I hope that he learns how to deal with it on the off chance that he inherits my chemical issues.

I recently got together with a friend of mine from high school.  We had not seen each other in 20 years, and she got the chance to meet Daniel.  Her comment in an e-mail after we got home was this:

"It was great to be able to meet Daniel.  He really seems like a nice, well-adjusted and well-behaved kid.  You must be so proud of him." 

I'm both proud of Daniel and proud of Noel and myself.  We must be doing something right!

Thanks to everyone for the comments via the blog, Facebook and e-mail.  It's nice to have the support and to know who's reading.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Titanic Connections

Image
100 years ago today, my Great-Grandmother, Nellie Steele, must have been grieving the fact that she had missed the most exciting trip of her life.  Her fiance, my Great-Grandfather, Jack McCurrach, had travelled to Canada 1 1/2 years earlier and was awaiting her arrival so they could marry.  But her sister was very ill and expecting a baby, and as it turned out she died about a month after the baby was born.  My Great-Grandmother stayed behind to support her sister and then take care of the baby girl until she could be adopted out.  The original plan was to take the Titanic to Canada.  Families on both sides of the Atlantic remember the story.  The disappointment that she felt in being delayed in her trip and missing the most celebrated sailing of any ship in history must have been devestating.  And the relief felt when she found out about the sinking of the ship must have knocked the wind out of her.  Talk about feeling somehow blessed - she must have been thanking God.  She end
Read more

Flea Beetles! ... and leaf miners.

Image
When I went out to the garden this morning, I found little holes in several tomato plant leaves.  "Argh", I thought.  "Flea Beetles!"  I hadn't heard about flea beetles until last year when our friend, Justin, lost all his tomato plants to the darned little things.  His plants were seedlings at the time, and apparently that is when they are most vulnerable.  He told me that you could trap the beetles with sticky yellow traps - and that was the extent of what I knew.  Flea beetles are about the size of a flea, and have long back legs and jump (just like a flea).  I hate fleas.  And I suspect that I'm going to learn to hate flea beetles, too.  So I went online quickly this morning before going to work.  Yes, flea beetles are fairly common and attack tomatoes, potatoes, and some of the cruciferous plants.  I'll let you know if they get into my leafy veggies - apparently they like them, too.  Sticky traps might help, so might Rotenone powder - which I am
Read more

Recipes from the summer of '35

Image
With the economy going the way it is, I thought looking back at some Depression Era recipes might help people save some money and maybe think about eating in a different way. It may also cause a laugh or two - which we can all use. So here are some examples from The Daily Province in Vancouver, British Columbia, printed 25 July. The weekly menu was suggested here: Just looking at the menu shows us how different things are now. This was meant for a housekeeper (whether a domestic goddess or hired staff). Here is one of the main dish recipes (Monday Supper) that we all might have the ingredients for: Scalloped Tuna Fish and Potatoes. 
Read more