Happy Belated New Year!
What a year it was! I have to admit that I beyond relieved that 2009 is over. The economy took one hell of a nose dive and it seems to have left half of our city out of work. I am lucky enough to do some Internet work, but even that was scarce this past year. Let`s hope that 2010 is THE YEAR!
Things are well with Daughter1 (DI) and although we don`t spend as much time together as often as I would like, she is coming around a bit more often. She actually came by during the holidays with pizza and snacks for our moviefest. That took me by surprise - she really is growing up, maturing, becoming the young woman that I always knew she would be.
My son....SIGH. He is still unemployed and barely looking. I have no idea how to make him excited about life, how to light that fire under his butt. I suspect that he is depressed over the lack of jobs and feels like job searching is an exercise in futility. I can`t really blame him, I just want to see him move forward,
D2 is looking at schools. She has an idea of what it is that she would like to do, but the money is a whole other issue. She has been working off and on. Crappy job after crappy job. I know that she will find her niche. I just hope that it`s SOON.
D3 is giving me a run for my money alright. She has always been the sweet, quiet child, and now she is the one that is sarcastic and .... well, just plain rude at times. I know that these are relatively small issues when she is not sexually active (she tells D2 everything), is not doing any drugs, not out robbing people, and at worse has been to parties where she drank booze about three times. That is still three times too many, but in the grand scheme of things, I feel pretty darn lucky. She has friends that are already addicted to drugs, skipping school, and some are mommies, at the tender age of 15. It could be worse, I know.
Hubby and I are having our ups and downs right now. He is feeling the pinch more than ever since he was laid off many moons ago. He has been trying his hand at various other jobs, but the truth is that after doing one job for thirty years, he has almost no skills for anything else. I think - I KNOW - that is a contributing factor to our fighting and arguing. We have been together for 10 years and I am not ready to give up yet.
The good news is that we are looking for something that we can do together, a small business maybe, that we can do mostly from home and give us quailty time that we need.
I think that once D2 finds a job and can start paying for her own things, that will be a big help too. I know that it will make her much better about herself, and that is something that she needs. She is a great kid, she just doesn`t seem to see it.
Anyway, we a great holiday. We discovered that you don`t need a wad of cash to make Christmas memorable. There is nothing better than a great day with your family all around you.
I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday, as well!

Bah Humbug

The holidays will soon be upon us and I not feeling it. The lack of money, the fact that my sister can't be here, and well, I don't know what else is doing it, but I feel like Scrooge.
Maybe bringing my ornaments out one by one will bring back that lovin feeling..Maybe I need to drag out the old time Christmas Carol cds, or the silly dancing tree that scares the dogs...
I dunno, I have to do something.

Hello!

I am finally back! Computer problems, a lost password and a bad internet connection has kept me away, but I am I found my way back to you all!

Things are great with my daughter. Well, maybe not great, cuz, as a 22 year old, she knows everything, but we are getting along, hanging out now and again, and things seem pretty much back to normal.

She did come home for Mothers Day, and which was all that I really wanted. I did get a supper out of it, too, with the 4 kids pitching in. That was an added bonus.

I can`t believe that the summer is long gone and Halloween is almost here. Hubby and I are invited to a party, but the task of finding a costume and dressing up feels daunting to me. It has been years since we have done anything like that. Mind you, I could use an excuse to have fun and be silly.

This economy and the lack of a pc has hit me where it hurts most. I do work from home, just part time to help out with the bills. Lately, I am getting paid in trade instead of cold hard cash. While I love the idea of a beautiful new necklace for moi, I would be much happier to get paid in good old fashioned dollars to pay the bills. Hubby encourages me to keep going though. Last year I got paid in merchandise for some work that I did and we gave it to our daughter for her birthday. She was thrilled and I was happy to contribute, but I still wish that I made real money, currency, ya know?

This all makes me think of the holidays, that seem to sneak up on me the minute that I blow out the candle on the pumpkin. I am usually half way done my shopping by now (no, seriously, I usually am) but this year, not so much.

So..thatès about all from me. You would think that I would have more to say after being gone so long, but I think that instead of blabbing on and on I will get caught up with some friends.

Princess L

Worse Than Ever

Things with my daughter have gotten worse.

MUCH worse.

We are barely speaking. When we do, it's an argument, and it gets us nowhere. I have not seen her in over a week and I miss her.

She is a good kid, but is dating a boy (yes, he really is a boy) that is no good for her. He is nice enough, don't get me wrong, but he is a bum. He works, but barely. His job does not afford him enough money to make it on his own, so he lives with his mom. He does, however have a way cool car. See, he doesn't make enough for rent and a car, so he has a car. My daughter is living with him. With them. The boyfriend and the mom.

The mom lets the kids leach off of her because she is lonely. She is not doing these kids any favours by babying them. The Boy will never leave his mothers home, there is no reason to. He will never have a good job, because he is a high school drop out that is happy to work at a call center for the rest of his life.

My daughter, on the other hand, is already a college grad that has gone back for yet more schooling. She will have her choice of two careers when she is done in October.

My daughter has gone from an independent young woman to a girl that relies completely on her boyfriend. The mother is so involved in all areas of the kids lives...My daughter still has her bills come here because she knows that Mommy Dearest will open them if they go there.

I am a survivor of abuse. I know that not all men are abusive. I am on my third long term relationship and although he is not perfect, we are ok.

I do however, recognize the signs. I can see when someone is being controlling and manipulative. We (her sisters, brother, father and I ) can all see it, but she can't.

I don't know what to do.

I want to let her live her own life, but this whole thing spells nothing but trouble and it scares the hell out of me.

I can't sit back and watch these people run my daughter down, yet if I say something, then I am the one controlling her life.

I just want my daughter back. The real daughter that I know, not the one that spews the catch phrases that boyfriend's mom have drilled into her head.

I just feel so hopeless.

Help!

My eldest daughter is 21 and I love her to pieces. She does however, piss me off in the worst way sometimes. I think that this phase of her life is more difficult than the terrible two's ever were.
I feel as though I am at my wits end with her and I don't know what to do.

This is soo hard!

I miss the days when she thought that I was all knowing and would believe me when I told her something...Now, I am old (although, at 40, I am not) and I don't what it's like 'now' cuz things were different 'when I was young.'

Gaahh!!!

How can I get through to her??

Help!

Hello Out There

Easter was good - friends and family and lots of laughs. What more can I ask for?

The weather is finally spring-like and of course, I was in the house all day. It was 22 out today - the warmest day of the year so far. I did manage to sit outside for a few minutes with daughter number two. We have so few quiet moments together, so that was a real treat for me.

I guess that I need to visit more blogs to get some traffic and new friends over my way.....It's pretty lonely here so far.

Happy Easter, everyone!

I will probably be sitting on my duff watching Chuck Heston in The Ten Commandments, eating boiled eggs and candy.

Life is good!