Mean Momma!

Well, it's official. I'm mean. I've been told for years by students when they didn't get their way or didn't follow directions and they had to face the consequences that I was mean. I never gave it much thought...I knew I wasn't. My consequences always fit the "crime" and overall were milder than other teachers (mostly time-outs and conferences with me...occasionally if property distruction was involved the student would have to "clean the property" or replace it). The difference was I was usually a lot more consistent than the majority of the teachers in my building (can you tell my school had behavior issues?).

Today, I took Peanut shopping. He'd been a pistol all day. The weather here (like most of the country) has been outrageously hot and humid and he hasn't been outside except for brief amounts of time. So, I decided to take him and run to the grocery store. He's usually very good in public and this time proved to be the same. However, once we got back to the car he threw a fit. He didn't want to get into his car seat and started pitching a fit. In the process, I got hit...hard...in the face. I didn't hit back, but he was relieved of his favorite stuffed pet that goes with us everywhere and his cup (I didn't want him throwing it at me while I was driving), and was quickly buckled into his seat with a warning to behave.

On the short drive home from the store, Peanut preceeded to scream and cry. I ignored him. So, then he tried a new tactic. "Mama...you mean! You mean Mama! Mean Mama! Mean Mama!" On and on it went with a few, "I want Daddy" 's thrown in. I have to admit that I had been dreading this day, but when it happened...I was hard pressed not to laugh. He was very commical and I didn't believe him for a minute. I felt "meaner" later in the day when I made him go into the house to cool off after being outside for only a half hour.

Adoption Update
Yesterday, Hubby and I went to meet with the new employees at our agency. Our caseworker had retired quite suddenly and the birth mother counselor is always changing (they seem to get pregnant and end up staying at home with their children). So, we went in so that we could all get to know each other.

To be honest, up until today, I had been feeling "abandoned." Our previous caseworker had sent out monthly newletters, had called us, and kept in close contact with us. We hadn't heard anything from the agency since the changes took place in May. We let them know how we felt (very nicely) and offered suggestions as to help keep in touch with people. We even offered to help with a newsletter. By the end of the meeting, we felt a lot better. We also left with the knowledge that currently all of the birth mothers had chosen parents. That news was a bit disheartening, but I know it will happen when it should and our wait hasn't been that long (just a couple of months).

Until next time...

Please excuse any spelling errors, etc. My spellcheck is being blocked by some other program.