Back In The Dark Ages

It seems that all of our monthly internet allowance had been used up and we are now on dial-up speeds. How horrifying! We are back in the dark ages!

Seriously though. I don't know how the kids have managed it but we used up all our bandwidth and we received an email last night. Too many you tube videos I expect and too many online games. Thank goodness our internet gets reset at midnight tonight. Mark and I didn't see much point in purchasing an extra data block when we would probably never use it all before our data allowance gets reset. Plus we thought it might teach the boys a lesson on what happens when we run out. I don't think it makes much of a difference to them to be honest but at least they now know we aren't always going to buy more bandwidth. They also need to be reminded that computers aren't just for the internet! Kids! They're making my hair turn grey have extra wisdom highlights.

My Kids Have NO Manners

I was talking with my sister, Julie, on the phone last weekend. She lives in Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula. It's a beautiful place there. In January on Australia Day (the 26th) they have the Tunarama its a tuna tossing competition where contestants see how far they can throw a frozen 10kg (22lb) tuna. You gotta love country towns and their traditions.

While I was on the phone I realised how rude my children really are when someone is on the phone. They have absolutely no manners. They try and have conversations with you while you're trying to listen and talk on the phone. It's rather disgusting. In fact Brodie is the worst culprit. I swear he has absolutely no idea when to stop interrupting me when I am on the phone even though I have told him many times to be quiet. How on earth do you get an extremely loud 18 year old who has Aspergers to be quiet??

Is it too late to try and teach a young adult how to be polite when it comes to conversations? Do you have any tips for me? Should I just tell them straight out how disappointed I am? What would you do? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

**quick update since I wrote this up. I told Brodz how rude he was because he was doing the exact same thing again. He didn't take it too well but I think he got the message.

Executive Decisions

Do you ever get tired of repeating yourself? I know I do. I am sure that the boys think I am like a broken record stuck on that big old scratch saying that same word over and over again. So in order to save myself from the stress of repeating myself I have made a few executive decisions that will hopefully make my life a whole lot easier.

I have decided that

• if I don't eat it, drink it or use and we run out of something YOU must put it on the shopping list or I WONT buy it! That includes things like coffee, sugar, cereal, special milk, ice-blocks etc.
• if I wash the dishes and you DON'T dry them I will serve your next meal on a dirty plate. I will no longer put up with the fact that YOU want to put the dishes away AFTER they have air-dried. Tea-towels were invented for a reason and that was NOT for decorating the kitchen. Be aware that I may even put the dirty dishes in your bed. It will depend on my mood that day!
• if YOU do not put your dirty clothes in the wash DO NOT expect me to do a load of washing 5 minutes before you have to go out and you have nothing 'good' to wear. Too bad so sad!
• if YOU cannot be bothered to shower frequently don't come crying to me when your friends or complete strangers say you STINK. I will light some scented candles or some incense to survive OR if I am in a good mood I might hose you down outside with the stinky grey water!

I think that pretty much covers it for now. I am sure that I may come up with more things if I really thought about it. Teens - sometimes they just do my head in!!

What Would You Do?

What do you do when your 18yo Aspie kid decided he doesn't want to go to school? Do you tell them they have to go? Do you give in for the sake of keeping the peace? Do you remind them that it is their senior year? That completing Year 12 is important? That passing is the outcome they agreed to achieve? Do you also remind them that if Centrelink (Social Security for my overseas friends) contacts the school or vice-versa he may lose his Education Allowance due to not being at school often enough?

As you can probably guess Brodie didn't want to go to school today. I often think its so he can spend more time on Facebook talking to his friends but I would love to be wrong on that one. I have told him that if he is NOT sick and doesn't want to go to school I WILL NOT phone them and lie to them. If he wants to stay home he needs to phone them himself and explain why he isn't there.

Even though Brodie is 18 and officially an adult he still isn't mature enough to always be treated like one. He hates that but its true. His maturity is probably equivalent to a 15-16 year old and some kids that age are very immature. Having Aspergers is hard enough but to heap a lot of 'adult' responsibilities on to him as well. I don't think I can do that to him yet.

I often wonder if I do the right thing? There are times when I have to play peace-keeper. I just don't need the stress. Its the only way to remain sane (well, my happy pills help a little). There are enough arguments in this place without me creating another one. I jus thope that one day Brodie will realise that I am not always a mean person who makes him do things. I do it because it is in his best interest and I am just taking care of him & helping him to learn to be more independent.

Teen Boys Are Smelly Creatures

Teenage boys are smelly creatures. Sometimes I think I should just take them outside and wash them down with the hose. The only problem is my two would probably enjoy it!!

A recent conversation we've had ...
Me: Brodie are you getting ready to go to the shops? I'm going soon.
Brodie: I don't want to go.
Angus: But you said yesterday that you wanted to go today.
Brodie: I changed my mind.
Me: Well that's about all you change. You don't change your underwear!

How do you get smelly teens to shower more frequently? To change their clothes more often?
If you know how to do it successfully and without arguing please let me know.

Sure Mum We Cleaned Our Room!

The boys said that their bedroom was clean ... here's some photos to show you what THEY call clean! Pffftt Teenagers!! Aren't they delightful!?!?!

Maybe I need to decrapify their room like Tina says she does with her home (& kids rooms) over on her blog.