Awesome job SD! You are a terrific dad!


Actually it will be DD19 waiting in line for me to meet Princess Jasmine.

Chris, You Dirty Dog You! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Today was career day for my son's 2nd grade class, and I had volunteered early on to be available to come in and talk about science. So I'm scheduled to be in a room with two other parents and give a 5-7 minute talk about what we do. I'm an organic chemist, so I prepare my spiel about what chemistry is and what molecules are and what we try to do with molecules where I work, and I bring a labcoat and safety glasses and some cool glassware to show the kids and even some plastic vials to give out.

I get into the room late, of course, so I didn't get to meet with the other parents before we started. Naturally, no one wants to come to career day and be the totally boring one, so I immediately sized up the other parents (makes me think of Letterman and Stupid Pet Tricks--This is not a competition, ladies and gentlemen, please, no wagering). The mom who was a dentist was just finishing up, and the other two guys were in suits, and I thought "Lawyers" and breathed a sigh of relief, because even if I suck I can keep up with lawyers (current readers excepted, of course). So the two guys walk up to the front of the class, give their names, and say "We work for the FBI."

D'oh! I have to go on after FBI agents? You might as well put me up after a San Diego Padre. They brought a bulletproof vest for the kids to try on. Sheesh.

It went really well, though. The kids were sufficiently impressed by cool glassware and talk of explosions that I don't think my son was humiliated. Fun stuff.

It's too bad your WW wasn't there so she could show them what a homewrecker does for a living.

oooooohhhhhhhh!!

Good one Jim.

SD, If you're gonna follow the FBI you gotta mention explosions.

Good Job!

Don't talk about exlposions too much in front of them. They might start surveilling you.

Oh, you can mention explosions, you just can't say

BOMB!!

[email]d@mn[/email], now they're watching me!

they have been watching you

DOH!!

Hey, is that what that bracelet they gave me was all about?

Next time you're at the park, slip it on a dog and run.

I gave it to DD3, seeing as how it was pretty and blue (and said something inspirational about the FBI).

Speaking of DD3, as she was going to sleep tonight she told me that she when she gets bigger she wants to fix roofs. "Like you, dad"--noting some lights in the bathroom that I had replaced. She went on to describe in great detail the kind of cranes that lift workmen up to fix phone lines and stuff and that that's what she would use to get on the roof. Then she would have a second kind of crane that would lift the wood up to the roof and set it down so that she could fix the roof.

I absolutely adore my children. Can you tell?

Guy Smiley, you so totally ROCK, dude!

You are awesome. Career day, eh. I wish I had a parent that came in for career day. I'm impressed.

Yeah, the FBI is watching you now!

Beau, I think they've had a line on you since you popped out of the womb. Some people are suspicious from day one...I'm sure they are already looking at Chrisner, due to your plans to take over the world, oh, um, I mean 'visit' with him...

Gonna get cleaned up and hit the beach, y'all, catch ya later...

Good Morning, just dropping in...wanted to be part of the trouble...

I'm really a camo girl, I like the print I guess, can I be the one hiding in the bushes?

SD, you have to LOVE those moments when your kids "think" big...it's so awesome...hold tight to that special feeling! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I will try to get you one of the ATF tee shirts that says:

Big yellow ATF on the front.

On the back:

Alcohol
Tobacco
Firearms

Who's bringing the chips.

Sounds like a Cajun Party!!

You mean POKER CHIPS?

I'm feeling lots of anger this morning. Maybe I'm more aware of my Anger Bank due to the Plan FUs last week, or maybe I'm just at that particular dip in the roller coaster.

The weekend was good. The SCQ had the kids Friday and Saturday, so I was flying solo on Saturday. It was a beautiful day here, and I did some shopping, some woodwork, and took a beach walk. Sunday I got the kids back (the transfer was uneventful--I didn't even look at the SCQ), and the kids and I had a pretty good day. Lots of playtime (another beautiful day).


The kids told me they spent the whole day at the pool on Saturday and then later that OM and his kids had been there. I heard this morning when I dropped DD3 off at daycare that they went to the county fair Friday night and that OM and his kids were there, so I assume that OM and kids spent the night Friday. I don't know for sure, and I don't want to ask the kids.

DS7 had a homework project that was mostly complete, but he didn't start working on the last part of it until 7:30 or so. I reminded him several times during the day but didn't make him start until then. He got frustrated quickly and wound up calling the SCQ (for help, I think. It's his homework, and I won't do it for him, and he doesn't respond well to my attempts to help him, so I will let him struggle for a while), who didn't answer at her apartment or her cell. DS7 was disappointed by this. With a little extra help from me, he finished his homework and didn't have to stay up all night doing it.

As I'm typing this, I get a call on my cell phone from the SCQ, which I ignore. I started to listen to the voice mail, and it starts off that she just got the message from DS7, and then it sounded like she was going to hassle me about why was he still working on his homework at 8:00 bla bla bla, so I deleted it without listening to the bulk.

I want her to hurt right now. To feel the pain of what she's doing. I have lots of things I want to say to her. An email like

"Don't blame me for you not being there when your son wanted to talk to you."

But as I type this, I realize that she already feels the pain (even if she doesn't know that's what it is), and that's probably why she lashed out at me in the VM. I don't know--maybe that's wishful thinking.

I'm tired.

In my case, SD, it's more awareness of my anger...

And the fact that I can be angry and am okay with that...I can allow myself to work through that...to calm myself down...

To be with my emotions...I can remember at one point that I was uncomfortable with that b/c I was a CA...keep the peace, bla, bla, bla..

You're doing fine...

And, aren't you the one that told me to take the higher ground, not matter how hard it is? I understand the need to write, but who's it really going to hurt?

You're going to be fine! ANd she will realize her choices...SOMEDAY...but Not today! Still blaming you...fog!

it's cool...be mad...protect your love...and safeguard yourself...you are reacting to your anger right now...been there, done that...chose to act and not react...

That's a lot of effort on your part, well, i don't know, but it was for me!

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

You Can DO THIS!

Your anger is understandable. Ouch, ouch, ouch...triggers from the left, triggers from the right. Super Dark Guy's Kevlar cape is not impenetrable.

When you say tired, do you mean physically or emotionally? I guess either way, it's no good, and doesn't do your mood any favors.

And of course she's going to lay it on about letting the homework go until the last minute. She never learned about consequences or responsibilities, so why would she have any desire for DS to learn those lessons? IMO, you are doing him a favor by letting him sweat a little. My 11yo is finally getting it after a few too many late nights just "finishing up."

You do sound a little down. I wish I could help.