A Taste Of Summer

I'm not very good at this daily blog writing but at least I am beginning to post more regularly again. Much better than I was before at least. Sometimes I think I should print off all my posts too so that if anything happens to this site I will have a copy of what I've written. Maybe one day I will get around to it. In the meantime I will just have to cross my fingers nothing happens to the servers.

We've had a mini heat wave here these past two days with temps of 37C (100F) .. a real taste of summer and to be honest I truly don't like summer all that much. I really prefer spring with its mild days and cool to cold nights. I know it is still spring now but I am so over this taste of summer already lol.

I phoned the High School this morning to arrange for a time to come up and talk with the middle years coordinator about the electives Brodie wishes to do next year any my concerns over his choices. I am so glad I phoned as I found out that there is going to be a 'strike' (they called it an industrial action - sounds more posh I suppose) and that Brodie will not be required at school tomorrow. So I had better ask at the Primary School tonight if Angus is required there not not. Truthfully I don't want both boys home unless there is no other choice. Angus already had yesterday off school as it was a Pupil Free day where the teachers were planning and programming for next year. Back to the phone call I have arranged to go up tomorrow as the coordinator will still be there but the Assistant Principal, Graeme, was going to confirm it with her first. He will phone back to let me know if there are any changes.

Back to the Primary school for a minute. Our Principal hasn't been at school for the past few weeks. He hasn't been all that well at all this year. He called in on Friday morning and told the children (and staff of course) that he wont be back at all this year and for all of next year as he has cancer. More specifically he has merkel cell carcinoma (National Cancer Institute UK) which is a form of skin cancer. He will be starting radiotherapy and chemotherapy as soon as possible and needs to take all of this time off for recovery. He also said that he didn't want to disrupt the children's learning with too many changes of teachers like they have had this year. I felt so sad about this when I heard. Poor Ian. I can only imagine how his family is feeling. He has been such a wonderful support for me while the boys were in Primary School. I'll definitely be keeping him in my prayers and I am hoping he has a full and speedy recovery. I know Angus will miss him terribly as he really likes Ian a lot.

I joked with Angus on the way to school this morning about the new Principal (who we don't know of yet as the Education Department is still working on getting us a new one). I joked that the new teacher might be mean and make him do all of his homework and his reading. You should have seen the look on Angus's face. He looked totally shocked and horrified. To be honest though I hope this new Principal will make him do his work. He needs to get into a good habit of doing his homework for when he starts High School in 2009.

Being Ugly!

Being Ugly is a term that my dear soul sister, Diva, told me about. It's what they say in Oklahoma about how kids have a melt down and lose their cool at people (especially family I think) and Brodie does "Being Ugly" quite well!
He did so the other night and physically hurt Angus and then decided to run away from home. I am so sick and tired of chasing after him that I didn't do it. I don't see why I should have to chase him every time he decides to run away from home. At least this time he didn't pack a bag so I knew that he would come home eventually. He came home when he got hungry because he took off before dinner time. When he came in we were about to sit down for dinner. He had the opportunity to join us but got angry at Mark and stormed off to his room. So Mark made him a sandwich and a drink so he could take his meds & I took them down to his bedroom. Of course Brodie was NOT happy about that and disappeared outside once again after eating. I truly do not know what to do with that child. He is shocking!!

He's been suspended again from school. We got a phone call on Friday just before I left for the primary school with the Assistant Principal saying how they would like me to collect him. Thankfully Mark was the one who answered the phone and said, "Sorry but I don't have the car right now it's at the Primary School with his Mum." To be honest I was leaving in a few minutes but that wasn't the point. There is meant to be a meeting at the school sometime this week in regards to his coming back or his expulsion, whichever they decide. I have no idea what will happen. In fact I am meant to be going to the school on Tuesday afternoon for a meeting in regards to trying to get him an integration aide. I need to find out if they still want me there for that or not. I don't see the point of going there for this meeting if they no longer wish to have him at the High School. I can see that soap box and its calling my name!!!!

I spoke to the Bishop this afternoon along with Brodie. I love our Bishop so much and he told Brodie straight out that is is his choice as to whether he does the right thing at school or not. He knows that Brodie can do the right thing as he has seen him do this at Church. He told Brodie that he needs to ask Heavenly Father for guidance in this. I truly hope that Brodie does this and doesn't try to rely on just himself.

I did ask the Bishop about a companion for Brodie. He thought that the idea was wonderful and I am sure that he is praying about it to see who would be the best person for the job. He also loved the idea about having a meeting to discuss Aspergers Syndrome and what it all means. I told him is was one of the sisters from LDS Social Services who mentioned it. The Bishop wants the Youth Leaders and the Primary Teachers involved, plus anyone else who wants to come as I said it would be important for others to come along. I want them (well all of the Ward) to know that Brodie is not jut a 'naughty' kid and that he does have things we need to be aware of. Also there are many other children in the ward that have behavioural issues that the leaders need to be aware of and have strategies in place to help them cope better.

It's the first weekend of the holidays!

OMGosh I've made it through the first weekend of the holidays! I just hope now that I have said this I haven't jinxed myself rofl

Yesterday I actually got to stay at home ALL day without having to go anywhere and it felt really good to have a day at home. That honestly isn't something I have been able to do for ages. Mark was kind enough to go into town and do all the running around that was needed .. foodbank, groceries, etc.

Today it was just the boys and I at Church. Mark stayed home because he wasn't feeling 100%. I really don't like going alone with the boys. Mainly because I get worried that they may misbehave and cause a bit of chaos but today they were pretty good although the big fella was extremely loud & vocal (which isn't really new for him).
The main messages today were about charity and prayer. Gosh I keep thinking about prayer and how I am NOT good at it. I'll talk with Heavenly Father no worries and will have many private prayers with him but to actually say them out loud is such a hard thing for me to do. I know I should be able to do it at home but I just find it so hard. I know Mark and the boys wont say anything even if I stuff up and make mistakes with prayers but it is still such a huge issue for me. For me though, I think that when I do say them out loud for the family it makes them extra special because I have gone outside my own comfort zone and said something. I just need the confidence to say them more often, the family ones that is. I'm working on it .. slowly.

Stuff .. .. ..

Oh man I have such a hard time trying to get things straight in my head right now. I can think it but I can't seem to be able to express it verbally.

Why do I find the weekends the most difficult time of the week??? Sometimes I just HATE it so much. I feel more stressed now than I do during the week. Why should the weekend be any different for the boys either? They seem to be at each other more and more. The insults, the arguing and just the general way they talk with each other drives me insane. Let alone the way that the big fella talks to me. All I can think is if I had spoken that to Mum or Dad I would've copped a huge hiding and I would've been sent to my room. However I don't recall ever being disrespectful to my parents. That's not to say I wasn't I just don't remember if I did or not.

I'm still having problems with the way I am thinking. Although I do feel a bit better than I did the other day or should I say last weekend. I think I need to revisit my affirmations and remember that there are good things. I'm having such a hard time with this.

Just before dinner Mark and I were talking about church and how relevant the talks during Sacrament were. In fact the talks were about prayer and Mark was only talking with me about it the other day. I am NOT good at saying them at all, especially out loud. I can't even seem to be able to say one before we eat dinner, not that we do that regularly anyway. I've even forgotten the one that Diva sent to me .. see I can't even get that right, I accidentally deleted the email!! Mark believes that I should say them so I can set an example for the boys but I feel that I am unable to do that yet. I know this is a cop out but he can do that for me right now.

I'm going to try and get the boys ready for bed and to get them to prepare their lunches for school tomorrow. I'm so glad that the big fella will be back at school tomorrow. It's been awfully difficult having him home for most of the week. Well maybe not difficult just different. I truly hope that he behaves this week. I don't know what I'll do if I get another phone call saying that I need to collect him because he has misbehaved again. Perhaps I shouldn't think like this but I still dread it when the phone rings during the day.

I have so much more I could write about but I don't think I am ready to put it into words just yet. I'll see how I go later .. ..