We are almost at the end of Jean-Jacque's ten day haitus in France. Now, don't get me wrong, I do understand that he was not sitting with his feat in the air eating bon-bons, he was really hard at work and sweating up a storm in a very hot, very un-air conditioned environment, but he was away from here, so on parent haitus. Here things have gone relatively well, the kids and I are getting along and there has been no loss of any ones cool. I even managed to get the kids to their swim meet and really more amazing, the laundry is almost done and all the ironing is taken care of - imagine that!
Charlotte is still busy copying the "book of Proverbs". This is now the fourth or fifth time she has done it. I know she really isn't getting any pleasure or any benefit from it, but I am not sure what else to do. I want to make sure that she understands the message that she needs to stand up and take responsability for her work and her jobs. She was actually doing fairly well since Wednesday. She really seemed to start understanding that the success or failure of her summer was really only up to her and how much or little she accomplished. She seemed to get it and started doing what needed to be done. She went to her swim meet on Thursday ofcourse, that is her duty to her team. Last night, I let her come to the pool with us after dinner, so that she had some free time. Today, we are back to the same old bull. We get two days of understandable behavior for five weeks of bad behavior. This is getting a little tiring.
Charlotte is still busy copying the "book of Proverbs". This is now the fourth or fifth time she has done it. I know she really isn't getting any pleasure or any benefit from it, but I am not sure what else to do. I want to make sure that she understands the message that she needs to stand up and take responsability for her work and her jobs. She was actually doing fairly well since Wednesday. She really seemed to start understanding that the success or failure of her summer was really only up to her and how much or little she accomplished. She seemed to get it and started doing what needed to be done. She went to her swim meet on Thursday ofcourse, that is her duty to her team. Last night, I let her come to the pool with us after dinner, so that she had some free time. Today, we are back to the same old bull. We get two days of understandable behavior for five weeks of bad behavior. This is getting a little tiring.
Hopefully, she will be able to start taking advantage of her summer vacation. I am totally tired of being a prison guard. I am also totally sure that she is tired of being a prisoner. I understand also that there needs to be another way that is certainly more productive than this poppy cock. Hopefully the counselor that we are going to see will help us find a better way to deal with Charlotte's behavior. According to everyone, what we are going through is very common. Apparently this is a right of passage. Somehow this is a right of passage that I managed to avoid, but it could be that this is a generational thing.
Helene is as precocious as usual and negotiating every little thing. It is starting to drive me crazy. Please don't misunderstand, I am delighted that she has the gift of negotiation and a fairly sophisticated vocabulary, but it is very tiring to have to describe why she must follow directions. The funny thing is watching her interact with Allyson. Since they are both exactly alike, it is pretty amusing. It is sometimes a little much because Allyson sometimes pushes a little, she doesn't always remember that Helene is only nine years old. Helene also has a tendancy to get a little frustrated and then have a meltdown, which makes Allyson push a little harder, rather than backing down and regrouping.
Luke is still pushing to do nothing while his sisters run around like chickens with their heads cut off to get all the chores done. He still knows how to charm me, but I do have his act down now. Allyson however, is still fresh meat and Luke is enjoying his aura over her, just like the aura he has over most of the people at the pool.
All three of the kids are bronzed. Even Charlotte who has access to the pool only in the morning for swim team practice. They look great and healthy and like summertime. I am a little tan, but the season is still early. Hopefully, with JJ back, we will be able to play some tennis and my color will improve. I do still get my swimming in, but since I don't start until later in the evening, the sun has usually lost it's intensity by then.
Today it was absolutely HOT outside, but we didn't get to the pool because the kids weren't really keen on it (well Charlotte was, but she didn't really have any choices) so we stayed home while I did laundry and ironing. Now I am trying to get to the pool to swim my kilometer, but a freak storm broke out and the kids are dragging their feet now that the storm has stopped.
So it's all over, my ten days as a single parent, and we have all come out unscathed. The really great thing is that I still learn and learn, more and more about the kids and about myself, every time I spend some time with the kids - it's great and awesome and amazing.
I did get to see Penny this week. It was awesome. She looks great and tanned an pregnant and glowing. I am thrilled for her and Brian and can't wait until October when baby Davis comes to the world. We also stopped by and saw Patty this morning. Her sister Vivian is in town helping out and both were so wonderful to us this morning. Patty is healthy and about six weeks away from delivering Sabrina Kovitch into her fathers loving embrace (I will have to take a very back seat to not only the parents but the grandparents and aunts, but that is as it should be and it's all good) and eventually I will get to get my cuddle in as well.
Hope that all is well with everyone else.
