LineaLanoie's Weblog

It sure is easy to get a teenaged child angry.  Just say “no” to something they want to do and there she blows.  The thing is that sometimes there is nothing else to do.  No other options – that are reasonable.  But it leaves me worn out and just about as grumpy as she is. 

The week has consisted of  a school dance on Thursday, the first late night; an overnight soccer trip for the high school team, second late night; then she hardly gets home from the trip and she wants to go out.  And I know that going out does not mean going to her friends house so they can get to sleep early! 

She is partly mad because her birthday is this week and so she figures that this should have been her weekend to celebrate.  I thought that she had arranged a party for the coming weekend but it turns out she has another soccer tournament trip then too. 

She says most of her friends don’t want to come over because they would rather go to their other parties where they can do stuff.  What kind of stuff?  Well lets just say that not the stuff I think these kids should be doing!  So I guess we just live in dullsville – and we aren’t planning on moving. 

I think she could choose friends that would at least be loyal enough to her to want to come to her birthday party.  But my opinion is definately not wanted right now.

This is the part of being a parent that really sucks!

Gavenagain has a quote from Karen Bennit that addresses some of the feelings another person at Gate Crashers and myself were having about responsibilities for children.  Sometimes what we see needing to be done and what we feel adequate to do don’t seem to be within our scope of capability.  God help us!  There is so much we see needing to be done but it is frightening when we start to look and realize what we are or could be getting ourselves into.  Do we ever need courage and guidance!

The comments section of this entry have some great quotes as well.

There wasn’t much time for much else today.  Up at 6:00, off to work till 5:00.  Pick up one child and get to a meeting by 5:30 and straight from that meeting to a congregational meeting at the church.  Home and all is quiet – kids are in bed but I didn’t even see them today but for a few short minutes.

The meeting at 5:30 was a necessary one for work.  The Federal Government has instituted new privacy legislation which means getting a more general consent for release of information for First Nations people.  There is a lot of resistance to it.  It is probably mostly poorly understood.  We dentists kind of get caught in the middle.  Sometimes we need information.  We can’t get it unless the patient has signed a release.  First Nations people are being told by most of their bands not to sign it.  The people at medical services are not allowed to give us the info we need.  Kind of like we are all running in little circles around each other but never crossing paths.

Anyways, we have a high percentage of First Nations people in our practice so we get a visit from the Regional director and staff person tomorrow.  And it is one of my sedation days so they will get an earful (of screaming kids most likely).

I had one of those rush and gulp meals from McD’s on my way to the church and got there in time to give my deacon report.  I felt a bit like most of my report was – we are planning such and such – dates and times to be announced when we know more about what we are doing.  I often feel like I don’t and can’t give enough time to making sure the events we want to have come about.  I think a more organized person could do all of this much better.  Oh well, I guess they are stuck with me.  I do try but I get spread too thin.

And tomorrow – sedations again.  They are stressfull for all of us but mostly for my staff.  I saw a little guy today – well sort of saw him.  His dad tried to hold him in the chair while I got a look in his mouth.  I felt like the safety of my fingers was in serious jeoprody.  He spit and kicked and screamed.  Three years old and only 6 teeth left in his mouth and now one more is abcessed.  It is very sad but no wonder he fought considering his past experiences.  Giving a kid a medication that wipes out the memory of such traumatic events is a good second choice when it comes to managing these kids’ care.  An even better one is to teach the parenting skills needed to have parents provide the care that would prevent such dental disasters.

Sometimes at the end of the day everything just seems to have run out of steam.  I am tired and had to pick up kids then make supper and then go back out for groceries.  With all the festivities this weekend there wasn’t much time for the regular chores.  And the kids all seem to be so busy that the old schedule for household jobs just isn’t working.  I used to come home after work and one of the kids would have supper made or well on it’s way to being ready.  Now it is rare to come home and have anyone else here.  And if they are here, we probably have to go somewhere. 

So I blew up just a little at the kids tonight.  Sometimes they just don’t use their heads.  Tonight when one of them came home they ate someone else’s supper and that someone was pretty mad.  Can’t say as I blame them but it makes for generalized grumpiness around here. Could have all been spared this with a little considerate behaviour.

And then as I am trying to wash up some things in the sink, there is no hot water.  This furnace/boiler of ours has been a terrible pain – always breaking down and now winter is on the way so it has to work or we could be in big trouble.  And this furnace is not old – only about three years.  Very frustrating.

So I guess I should just go to bed, get a good sleep and maybe things will look better in the morning.  If I have to have a cold shower I think I will cry.

Update:    We got the furnace going again – had to reset it.  But why it quit?  I have no clue so I wonder when it will quit again?  You know what I mean? 

And the kids?  Well I hope their day is better today and that they actually listened and do the chores they agreed to do.  And I need to back off and let them do them without – well – blowing up too quickly!