Sunday, October 30, 2011
I have been doing my best to dodge the weird phone calls from Sean. I answer of course but as soon as I notice something is off with him I try and end things as soon as possible (more so than usual). I have been using email to try and arrange the whole holiday visits schedules. In person he has been agreeable and eager with me but I have been down that road before. He doesn't ask about Cade coming anymore. I can only assume he just figures Cade with come eventually and if not, oh well. Sofie on the other hand the past few months has been getting down right falling into tantrum mode about not wanting to go. It used to be she would cry and complain only to me. I would be stressed and trying to soothe her and by the time Sean would show up to get her she would be fine. Slowly that has changed to where she would seem happy to see him, hug him and turn to me ready to go home. It was like she had an attitude of, "Well, I hugged him, smiled and said hello so now I'm done." Then when she realized she would have to actually go she would cry and whine and say she wanted to go home with me. Sean was finally having to go through what I had have had to deal with from the beginning. Maybe that's a good thing? Maybe she is feeling more comfortable with him? All I know was this Friday was the first time since nearly the beginning of her having to leave that I cried.
We had a field trip this week to Bangor which is about 2 1/2 hours from here. We left on Wednesday to meet up with the other outer island kids and went to the planetarium, had a presentation about the space shuttle and astronauts, went to a rock climbing wall and a challenge course. We spent the nights in cabins by a lake on Wednesday and Thursday and had a Halloween party on Thursday. Even though it was packed with activities it was surprisingly relaxed and the kids had a blast. Sofie was amazing and unafraid scrambling up the rock wall, all harnessed up and repelling down. She got right in there with the older kids and making friends with the two other kindergardeners. On Friday we drove back, she napped and then we had our last swim class. I splurged and got her a happy meal. We talked about her going to Sean's and she was not very happy about it but didn't cry like usual so I made the mistake of thinking things would be at least the same as before or a little better when I dropped her off. She was rested and fed and relaxed from swimming. When she saw Sean some into the bay lines she got up and instead of running to him she ran off before I could stop her and hid behind the benches along the wall where we really couldn't get to her without dragging her by the arm which neither of us wanted to do. I tried talked to Sean calmly telling him about her trip and telling him the usual things he needed to know hoping it would give her time to calm down some. In the end it took us 15 minutes to coax her out. Sean was getting angry and asked me why she was doing this all of a sudden. I told him this wasn't sudden it was only the past few months he was starting to see what I have been telling him about from the beginning. I suppose he just never believed me before. He told me that when he gets her to his house that it's like this stuff never happened. I told him just because she isn't actively crying doesn't mean she isn't still upset. The hardest part for me was when she refused to say good bye to me because she thought if she didn't she wouldn't have to go. So I said good bye instead and she cried and looked at me like I had slapped her. I really felt for the first time I was abandoning her. The look she gave me nearly killed me. Sean had said to me a few minutes before, "Well, aren't you going to say good bye to her?" In a very nasty way as if Sofie's tears were all my fault. This was right after he had been trying to convince her that coming with him would be fun. He had told her he had pizza and that they would go see a movie (which was I'm sure a lie) and wouldn't she like that? Like this? She agreed of course, who wouldn't? Then he said, ok let's go and Sofie said no that she was going with her mommy. I had almost laughed at that because she reminded me of the boys right then. They always got a kick out of Sean trying to bribe them and they saw it for what it was and took what they could but it never once changed their minds about anything and told him so and here she was doing the same thing. Sure I like pizza and the playground and movies. Sure I want to go and eat that and do that...just not with you. This was of course when Sean went from the cruel, here we go again to, nasty. Thankfully he was focused on taking that out on me and how everything was my fault but I didn't care and better me than her. I know I'm not doing anything to turn her against him. When he bails out of visits Sofie doesn't even bat an eye anymore. She shrugs and says he must be busy. Anyway, I said goodbye and could hear her cry and scream for me. It sounded like a kidnapping with her crying how she wanted her mommy. I had a lot of friends there from the island and one of them came up to me and hugged me and I just started to cry right there. She whispered to me that Sofie was walking on her own and everything was ok. I certainly didn't want Sofie to see me upset in anyway and held it together until she couldn't see me. Kids are smart. You can even let them get a sniff of your moods because it affects them. You have to be cold at heart until they are gone. I don't want to influence her in any way. Yesterday, while I was working at the post office everyone who had been there who hadn't spoken to me on the boat that night talked to me about what happened. It was nice to have everyone so concerned for me and Sofie but it was hard because my feelings seemed to be right on the surface. When I wasn't thinking about it I was fine but it would only take a few words and tears were right in my eyes. Small town. I can only hope Sean's odd mood swings stay stable enough to deal with her.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Sofie's reading/video game corner
So Cade is gone for the week on a school trip. He forgot his sleeping bag of course even after I reminded him. I am getting better and shrugging and telling myself it isn't my problem. I did my part after all.
Sofie was supposed to go on a field trip yesterday but we both felt sick. I was crashing after getting only 2 or 3 hours of sleep a night since Saturday. I don't know if I was stressed more than usual or just feeling the cold coming on that kept me up so much. I like that night time cold stuff. It helps.
Connor finally managed to find a job. Not in town though but on a nearby islands boat yard. He will be patching traps and learning how to work on boats. He will work every day he doesn't have to stay after school and weekends. Due to the boat schedule that will mean him staying with a friend on the other island quite often. I am not thrilled but willing to let him try. If he crashes and burns at least he tried. I packed a banana box full of food for him so he won't eat his friend out of house and home. He has a set time every day to call or the job experiment is over and a certain grade he has to maintain for school. He is also seeing his school counselor every single day now. That more than anything has been the most helpful. His mood is good. So, we'll see.
Will is moving right along. He has been making about $1000 a month and also doing side jobs and school work. He could be doing more school work than he is but he'll have more time for that by the end of November. He already is never here on his days off spending time with friends so I am not worried about him cutting off from the world. I don't ask him to pay me rent or anything but he helps me when I ask without complaint, helps with Sofie if I need it and helps with some of the bills like the phone and internet. His brothers complain a bit when he might hog the tv but I tell them he has earned it and since he is rarely home to watch it in the first place they better not whine. He also cooks which is a huge bonus but I know he if didn't already like doing that he wouldn't. One thing about Will is he won't do anything he doesn't want to do. Quite stubborn.
In my quest to update the library to a more modern age I have been fiddling around with ebooks and audiobooks. I have been about going blind with all the free options out there to listen or look at. There is just not enough time in the world to read everything and that makes me sad. I wish I could earn money by reading. I would be filthy rich.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Sofie at Matinicus Island field trip
I find it is rather a good thing work slows down for me this time of year. I have to keep a closer eye on Connor and his moods and it is just so stressful I don't think I could handle anything more. My store job is only one day a week now. The post office job is one sometimes two days a week. My babysitting is spotty at best and the cleaning jobs will be pretty much over after this week. Scary but at least I have something. I am pushing that work/money stress aside and dealing with kids stress now.
As for my own school that is finishing up this week and I am going to take a break from that as well. I am burnt out. I will go back after a semester break. I wanted to cry dealing with this last class. It wasn't hard to figure out but a lot of work and it felt so meaningless. Besides, all the school stuff I want to deal with for the time being is the kids school stuff.
Connor has had trouble again getting to school but me and our support group of counselors and teachers stopped the ball before it got out of control this time and he is back on track. His grades are good but I can see an oncoming obsession with money happening with him again. He gets consumed with one obsession after another and it drives me crazy. Now he want to a job and it's his main focus. In other kids, wanting a job to earn your own money would be a good and responsible thing to do. In Connor it's the start of a guilt trip. He wants money usually because he feel like he owes a lot already and feels guilty. He also never got over the fact he got let go of his lobster job earlier than expected. He had spent his money thinking he would be able to make another $400 or so to tide him over but then he didn't get the work. I warned him that this could happen but who am I, right? I have offered him a few bucks working with me on some cleaning jobs but he always bails at the last minute. I don't offer any more. Will asked him to haul for him this past Saturday so he could go to one of his life breath classes and Connor hemmed and hawed until it was too late. He said no then yes but Will told him he had to know earlier than when Connor told him. I also don't think Connor can handle school and a job at the same time. Especially this time of year. I just feel like everything is holding on by a thread with him.
I was lucky enough to have Sofie for the extra day off here over the holiday. It was a dad weekend but he brought her back early. Not a big shock there. Cade is still not going and I am not sure how this will all play out.
Gotta run, I am going to work on figuring out ebooks and audiobooks for our library computers and how to link the system with the main branch. I should get paid more for this. *sigh*
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Well, I have been a lazy bum when it comes to updating this. It was a busy month. Swim lessons started up again for Sofie. I had a birthday and so did Cade. I can't believe he is twelve now. His dad didn't send a card or anything. He did call once, stuttering and hardly coherent but yet still had the presence of mind to try and blackmail Cade into coming for visits again by holding a birthday present as leverage. He did the same thing to Connor. Cade remembered that and wasn't impressed. Cade also got zip from his grandparents. I so love how Cade is made into a bad guy in al this. Anyway, his brothers and I pooled together and got him a bike. It wasn't anything expensive and very simple with no gears or anything. Just something to get from point A to B and easily fixed.
Sofie and I also went on a school field trip to another island. I posted some pics of the trip. Thankfully no one was seasick but it was close for a few of us. It was a blast. It was also cold since we had to camp in tents. We were both wiped out at the end though.
As for Connor....that is a whole other post.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. Things were supposed to slow down right?
Kids are back to school and after a few bumps seem to be doing fine. Cade is trying my patience and is already grounded for a week. He just didn't bother coming home until the late boat yesterday without asking or calling to hang out with friends. We need to nip that trend in the bud. Otherwise he's good. Sofie has been crabby and testing limits. It seems when kids hit that half year mark in age they turn nasty. She's almost 5 1/2 so it has begun. Whining, saying no, not picking up because "she doesn't want to", tattling, crying at the drop of a hat. I almost wish she was at school all day and not half a day. Today is her first full day so she can attend specials. She is excited about that. Connor is doing well so far. He has been open about how his days have been and sharing a lot with Will as well. Fingers crossed. Will is still working and doing school. He was really tired yesterday. He was out for 10 hours and was not pleased when it was around 80 degrees.
I have a full post office day today. Working out how to deal with Sofie was a challenge. I will miss her first swim this season as well because I have to be here at the PO. Another mom is taking her in so Sofie can go to a birthday party afterwords. She will be all hyped up on fish sandwich and cake when Sean picks her up. I am not sad about not seeing him at all. Cade isn't going again so I will have him with his nose to a book this weekend. He has a lot of it to do.
It feels like I am all over the place again. I am still cleaning and at the library for the school and closing it up for winter. I also am doing the store hours. It feels weird. Anyway, I feel too tired to get my school work done a lot. Seasonal allergies I never really knew I had kicked me on Friday. I was sneezing for nearly four hours straight. It was awful.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
First Day of School - Big Kid Desks
So, yesterday was my birthday and the kids first day back at school. My golf cart was fixed the afternoon before so I was able to drop Will off for work and then take Sofie to school. When we opened the door everyone began singing to me. I think they could tell I was embarrassed. Sofie didn't know what to do. It was kind of funny.
I wasn't sure if Connor was going to make it at all. He was up at 3am running the shower. I knew that meant he wasn't feeling well and sure enough he was throwing up shortly there after. He said after he threw up that he felt a whole lot better though and went to school. I had been thinking, here we go he's going to miss his first day. I don't know if it was nerves or something he ate. He was the only one who got sick though and he has been fine since.
That after noon I went back to the school for a PTC (parent/teacher committee) meeting to plan out the school year. The kids were all playing in the playground and we were trying to finish off to meet the ferry at 4pm to see how the big kids first day went when Will popped his head in to ask for a ride home. I said sure and then we heard an engine and a squeal of brakes. Will went to check and he came back in pale and said "someone" (I can't legally say who) was injured. Since in that room alone we had 3 EMT's we ran outside. The ambulance was on the other side of the playground so I told Will to watch the kids and keep them out of the way. We sent someone else to tell the family since they were also right down the road. It was a trauma and my first real call. I don't know but when you know the person too it adds a whole lot more to the whole thing. Keeping calm and out of each other's way. So one of us called 911 to get the fireboat out and on it's way, another got the ambulance out and the other stayed with our friend. It took a while and from the time we started to the time we were washing down the ambulance took nearly two hours. We got a call this morning that the person is going to be ok but in the hospital a few days. I felt so bad because as EMT's we can't do anything for pain and the person was in a lot of pain. Knowing the person is in good hands really is a relief.
After that excitement I went home to a pot roast and lemon cake I made for my birthday. The kids were great with Will taking Sofie home and them getting everything ready knowing why I was gone. I had a friend over and the presents were nice. After I was all relaxed Cade gave me a huge folder of school paper work to sign. That wasn't what I was hoping for to end my day.
Today started off well other than the rain. I got Will and my friend's son to work and Sofie to school and on the way home the cart died again. I could have screamed. It was just wet and being a pain but, really?
Here we go again. That taste of road freedom was so sweet. *sigh*
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
So, the golf cart is still a big question mark. I am having it moved to my driveway today and I have someone who is going to look at it. It seems to be a wiring issue and fixable.
We are as ready for school as we are going to be. I have a headache really just thinking about it.
Looks like I have wrangled another job for the fall and winter working for our little store a few hours a week. Hopefully I can survive with that, the post office (if it doesn't close) and the day care I do. Hopefully. Will is helping out too now that he is working which is nice. I could never count on his child support anyway so it all a bonus. Especially now that Sean no longer has to pay for him. Will of course is trying to balance work and school. It's hard I know. I am struggling with mine. I did well last semester but not really feeling it this semester. I am doing the work but not as quickly as I should. It hasn't helped I have been off and on ill recently. I had some really bad head pain last week that had me down. Stomach trouble too. I am ok now but now I feel like I am behind in everything.
On a fun note we have already planned a school field trip for September. It is an inter-island get together on Matinicus island. We have to get there by either plane or someone's lobster boat. It is 20 miles out and has a one room school house like us. The kids have been conferencing via skype for a few years now and do book groups together and even some classes. It's great experience with technology as well as socialization. Every year we all try to physically get together with the other outer islands. They have one kindergarten student this year just like Sofie and a girl too. Everyone wants them to get together so much it's cute. We will be camping in tents for two days and I have to come up with an activity. Their school goes to 8th grade. I wish ours did too. Oh well. I will have to leave Will in charge for those two days. He will so enjoy that. Can you read the sarcasm there?
Sofie came home from her visit yesterday. I let her stay an extra day so she wouldn't have to come home during the storm. She had me struggling to keep a straight face on the boat ride home. She asked me if I knew that Kathryn had a scar on her chin. I didn't recall her having one before so I said no. Then she said, "Maybe if she was nicer, people wouldn't want to beat her up and leave scars." Now, I did not ask if this scar was a result of an actual "beating up". It could have been an old bike injury for all I knew. I thought it was interesting Sofie thought she was mean enough to deserve a beating. Then she tilted her head and said, "Maybe Ramona did it." This told me it must be a fresh wound. I didn't want to think if Sean had done anything. He gave me stitches once but it was an accident. I said to her I didn't think Ramona (the "baby") was strong enough to do something like that. Sofie was very animated by then and assured me of how strong the toddler was. She pointed to a fresh bruise on her leg and told me how the girl had come "out of no where" and punched her in the leg. "She has a strong head and strong fist and strong legs!" I rubbed her leg and asked her if she told daddy about it. She nodded and said, "Daddy yelled at her then he grabbed Ramona real tight on her arm and yanked her to put her in time out." I am not sure if I should feel glad Sean finally did something to protect his daughter or bad for how angry he was to the other girl. She is only two after all.
Well, back to work my break is over. I am at the post office today.
;;
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