Nothing like the smell of tear gas in the morning...

As terribly busy as I have been ( as evidenced by my last post); yesterday morning's events have sent me straight to my keyboard to share the events that I would never discuss in detail on my social networking sites.

My middle child was preparing to leave home yesterday morning only to be greeted by the sight of police and s.w.a.t. team members preparing to execute a search warrant. It was a bit alarming to open my front door to see several strange vehicles and approximately twenty men dressed in all black brandishing weapons! It's a good thing I had already enjoyed my first cup of coffee.

It wasn't until the officers surrounded the house they were seeking that I allowed my son to leave for school. What a way to start the day--really?!

Sometime You've Got to Lay Hands

I finished my last post feeling confident a simple unexpected visit to my youngest son's place of learning would do the trick and turn things around.

WRONG.

That next morning, I had just stepped out of the shower preparing to get dressed when the phone rings. It's my youngest. He proceeds to tell me that he is in ISS (In School Suspension) for the day. As one can imagine at this point, I'm ready to blow a gasket.

Long story short. I followed through with my school visit, spoke with a few teachers, got a feel from the faculty and staff then returned home to plot my next move.

The acting out continued for another week. The final straw came when after another day of misbehaving at school, receiving a phone call from a teacher while my son stood there, spoke with him myself, then going right back to the behavior that preceded the phone call (as if to say f--- you), coming home as if everything was fine and giving me attitude in front of company...really?

I apologized and excused myself from my company, then proceeded to tan that ass!

We've been good since.

A note I received two weeks ago from one of his teacher's. "Mrs. XXXXXXXX, I wanted to let you know that since our talk, XXXXXXX has been a different child. He seems happier and is doing his work. I hope this keeps going in the right direction."

;)

The "Pop up" - Part I

Growing up in our household, there was one threat we never tested. Acting up so badly in school, that our mother had to leave her own classroom and come to ours.

I recall an incident in high school when my life was in danger and I wasn't even aware. My mother had received a phone call informing her that I was not in school. Before she could make arrangements for a sub and gather her coat and purse; Mr. Przybysz, our principal & my favorite administrator, called my mother and corrected the mistake. I learned of my near death experience after returning home that evening and my mother informing me of the days events. I'm still a little salty about the whole thing.

I digress.

My youngest child is the testosterone version of my late maternal grandmother. Suffice it to say he has a strong will and an even harder head.

After weeks (no months) of talking, In School Suspensions, lunch detentions, taking away every privilege, not receiving anything for Christmas and numerous phone calls to and from teachers. It's time...

Tomorrow morning after I give my boys a hug and a kiss, make sure they board the school bus safely and see their sister off for the day; I will be making a trip to Edison Intermediate to spend time in class with my youngest son. As I think about the look on his face when I walk into his classroom, I think I'll take my new digital camera along to capture the moment.

In Awe

My oldest son (a.k.a. Boy 1) underwent surgery last Thursday to remove his left testicle, and I find it interesting that one of the first questions I'm asked is, "Will it effect his ability to produce children?" Why is that important at the age of thirteen? Sometimes I think our priorities are seriously misplaced. FYI, men only need one to reproduce.

As much as I look forward to being a grandmother (in the very distant future), I was more concerned with the real possibility of losing my son to testicular cancer if we did not proceed with the surgery.

By Friday, Boy 1 was restless and ready to return to his routine. The concept of post op recovery seemed to be lost on him. By Monday, he practically ran out of the door to return to school. Kids, gotta love that bounce back factor!

Happy New Year!

As usual, the holidays were hectic. It was an emotional roller coaster for me, but I got through it.

My oldest had a minor melt down as she enters her last semester of high school. If nothing else I learned that sometimes it's best to leave it alone, let the dust settle, pray about it, sleep on it & before you know it, the situation works itself out.

Now, as 2009 begins, my oldest child is preparing to graduate in June. My middle child is in the throes of puberty as her prepares to enter high school in the fall. My youngest child will work on his attitude and keeping his mouth shut at school or else his 12th birthday won't be very happy (can't really fault him, he gets it's honestly); but I'm sure the fact that he got nothing for Christmas will serve as a vivid reminder...

All in all, we are happy, healthy and blessed.

Obama's Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy

In the first two weeks since the election, President-elect Barack Obama has broken with a tradition established over the past eight years through his controversial use of complete sentences, political observers say.

read more | digg story

You've got to love it...

I've always loved political cartoons. Just wanted to share.