How Are the Children?

How are the children?

R, or Stick, the oldest daughter, is well. She recently got her first apartment, sadly being 900 miles away I haven't been able to see it yet. But she's proud of her new little home and happy. She's also been promoted at work, now an hourly manager at a popular coffee shop. She works hard, takes pride in her work and it shows. I am continually proud of the woman she's becoming.

T, or Butder, the oldest son, will be 18 in November and while visiting my mom in MN has decided to stay. He's looking for work and working towards getting his GED. (I may not have shared the struggles of getting his transcripts transferred down here, on my other blog, but long story short they didn't accept any of them and wanted him back in the 9th grade- he was in 11th, so a hard decision was made last year, to keep him out and pursue other avenues.) Here where we are there are so little opportunities his chances are slim of ever finding a job, and his plan along has been to return to MN after his 18th birthday, so this is just a few months early. I do miss his company, as do the other kids. But this is in His best interests.

P, or Peeker, the 2nd oldest daughter, is now the oldest child in the house. She's still our little mama. Before school began this year we gave her the decision of home schooling or going back to their old school, she decided to go back. As an 8th, who does well in school, I think socially this was important to her. Our relationship has improved greatly, as has her and my husband's. This age is very difficult for step-daughters/step-fathers, I remember that from my own experience with my step-dad and that of my daughter and ex. She's a very intelligent, mature girl, coming nicely into her own, with plans for the future (she wants to be a natruopath).

I, or Belly Button, the 2nd youngest daughter, is coming into the age of the early/pre-teens. She has more chores than the other children but this is because of her love of animals. She's our chicken wrangler, and most of their care is hers. She's experimenting with being the Boss, and is struggling with being nice. This is really different behavior for her, that we've seen grow in intensity over the last year. Maybe stress of all the changes? Maybe influence of the children she attends school with here? (The children here are expected to respect adults w/o exception, and if they don't are "whooped" for it. So they take it out on each other, and especially the weaker kids. I've seen it first had with my BIL.) She was also given the opportunity to home school this year, but after Peeker made the decision to go back I observed her and O and found their relationship dynamic would not make for a pleasant or easy home schooling aptmoshpere. And set her back. So far she's enjoying the year and her teacher.

O, or Oni, the 2nd oldest son, was Dxed this spring with Asperger's Syndrome. We felt a great sense of relief with this dx, it fits. But the school made it clear they could, or would, not meet his needs. So the big decision came to home school him. We are now a satellite campus of The Farm school here in Tn. Its a learning experience for all of us, and we're still searching for what works for us. My biggest concern for him is him getting his work done too quickly and what to do with the rest of the day. (Seriously he's done in less than 2 hours, unless of course he's fighting me about doing the work.)

C,or Bug, the 2nd youngest son,  has made me rethink the idea that 3 is harder and 2. He's been so much easier since turning 3 and easier than my last 3 yo (but in Oni's defense he was un-Dxed at that point and receiving no help, I was drowning in him). His language/speech has caught up and he's most potty trained. With the expectation of peeing on the floor "Because I want to". (Anyone with ideas on this please chime in. We've tried everything we can think of- making him clean it up, times outs, rewards, etc.) And this boy loves his baby sister SO much! How he treats her is amazingly loving.

J, or Bugabuga, the youngest son, well he's a handful, but too cute to be angry with for too long. His face has become so expresive. And the boy LOVES to dance, his favorite music being Swing music of all things! LOL  I'm very loosely trying to introduce him to the potty and last night he amazed us all by pooping on it by himself! Bugabuga is very attached to his big sister Peeker and she to him.

A, or Truly, the baby girl, she continues to amaze us daily. She like Bugabuga has THE MOST expressive face. The looks she makes keep us rolling for hours! She has found her voice, can now sit unassisted, and is starting to creep forward and backward. I'm still unsure she'll be able to crawl in the traditional method but she's finding ways of making life work for her.

Well there's our update!