What's Been Going On

Nothing exciting has been going on, that's fo rizzle!  I mean the most exciting thing I have to report right now is that as I was raping my coin jar to score some much needed cash, I sat in dog pee on my rug. 

I don't know how it happens or where the money goes but lately I am always broke!  I think it has to do with the kids and their constant need for everything - including medical attention.  In the past two weeks, everyone except me has been sick.  Actually, I had a small version of their colds but as you might well know, Mom's aren't allowed to get sick!  I have spent obscene amounts of money on various cold remedies only to have them fail or the kids will refuse to take them because they are the wrong flavor.  Are you kidding me?  Just take the damn medicine!  When I was a kid we had orange and occasionally a grape or cherry flavor - none of this, fruit punch, tropical punch, bubble gum and so on.  Of course, Emma and Abigail can take adult medicine now but their symptoms were different so the medicine had to be different.  Then there were Vick's Scented Puffs, prescriptions for a variety of ailments, I had two doctors' appointments, Emma and Olivia both had appointments, Those appointments alone set us back $60.00!  When you add in the all the prescriptions and misc. efforts at treatment for what ails all of them, the grand total was over $200.00! 

I also bought each of the kids a few fall clothing items.  Despite how they like to run around naked half of the time, at times they have to wear clothes.  Olivia and Sarah's clothes are pretty inexpensive in the grand scheme of things.  Emma's are so-so on the price scale because she can still wear some kid sizes.  Abigail on the other hand, her clothes are outrageous!  The worst part is that they aren't even in to labels yet! How will I ever afford the "in" stuff if they want it?  I guess they will just have to learn to love what I can afford, right?  The other problem is that since Abigail is in juniors now, the clothes are more expensive and she doesn't think it's fair when Emma gets two pair of pants and she only gets one. I have tried to explain to her that Emma's are always a "two for deal" which always comes out cheaper than one pair for her.  She will just have to deal with it for now because it won't be long when they are both screwed!

Scott and I had parent teacher conferences last week.  I can honestly say, I wish all school conferences were like a kindergarten one.  "Oh look Mr and Mrs Downing!  What beautiful flowers Olivia can draw!" WOOT WOOT!  Yup, you walk out feeling like you are the perfect parent.  However, middle school conferences feel more like the Spanish Inquistiion!  Seriously, as soon as we walked into the classroom I all ready felt like I was in trouble.  There were seven teachers all sitting in school desks in a circle with two empty desks for parents.  Scott and I sat in our "assigned" seats and then the conference started.  I knew I was in trouble immediately.  You see it turns out that one of my children has not been doing any of her homework, blew off a project and obviously has not been applying herself.  Somehow, the responsibility for her lack of work ethic is my fault. Let me further explain the conversation.

Mrs X:  Are you checking her agenda book everyday?
Me: Ummmm...she has an agenda book?
Mrs X: Well you ARE getting the email reminders we send out, AREN'T YOU?
Scott:  Uhhhh I dont' even know how to get on my email!

I am sitting in my assigned seat thinking, "Oh Shit!  Say something brilliant Krissy....say something!!!".  And it was apparent to me that my husband was not helping out the situation.

Me: You know, I really have been trying to encourage independence in my children this year.  I want them to have the opportunity to be responsible for their own work (which I have no doubt translated into I am a lazy Mother) Obviously, it was a mistake to let Child 46b12V8 be responsible for her own work.  We will go home and beat her little ass for embarrassing the hell out of us.  You should see a turn around in her work ethic immediately.  Oh and in regards to the emails, I have received them but I don't always get on my email daily so most of the time, the event has all ready passed. They just all stared at me like I was an idiot.  Why aren't they looking at Scott???  Geesh!

Anyway, parenting is so much fun.

Sincerely,
The Queen of Insanity