HELP!!!!!

You could try freecycle for your county. I separated plants this spring and couldn't believe the response I got people wanting them

I use to do the spoon river drive until, I met my husband, I have one child and he has 4 (1is not really his, when the ex left she left him too) 5 kids are just too much to take with

what is the spoon river drive?

I hear ya. I think 1 would be to many couldn't imagine trying to keep track of 5.

Lynnie it is miles of scenic driving and all the towns along the way have crafts, antiques, food, flea markets, yard sales, you name it. There are actually 2 going on at the same time and they run into each other.

oh like that biggest tag sale/flea market that's on TV that goes through several states

Kind of except it is just a couple of counties here and they throw in some historic things along the way.
I think my break is over I better get back to work while Dill is taking a nap. Of course it quit raining and the sun is shining, I pulled weeds for awhile but muddy mess so its back to the BR.

Later

Kharma has a way of leveling the field...patience is the hard part...grin. Good on your guy for being there for the young'un. Makes him a stellar feller in my book. grin

Oh yeah cuz when he hit puberty he definately tried pushing the bounds of parental love. Not nearly as much as the next oldest currently is though!

my grandson lives with us. He will be 15 on Tuesday....know about those boundaries...just can't seem to make him understand I have already raised three, not much new with four and maybe he could just take my word for it once in a while...grin

Exactly! Trust us we already made these mistakes learn from our lessons...but nooo..they know everythig! LOL

My father in law once commented how foolish and ignorant of life he thought his father was when he was growing up....said he was amazed at how much his dad learned by the time my father in law was 30.....grin

well in these times they are being bombarded with so much crap way earlier than we ever were

The crap has always been there, it is just so much easier to step in it these days.

my youngest is in 6th grade & one of her friends gave her a hitter & told her it was a spitball launcher!

Brings up lots of questions...how much do you try to keep away from them and how much should you tell them to protect them? Not much is cut and dried anymore, 'cept herbs.

Very very true! seems everytime I turn around its something new...the topic of blow jobs came up recently...my husband is intimidated by those subjects...but I just use my moms phylosophy...If they don't learn the truth about it from me....they'll learn alot of misinformation from their friends at school!

Yup....like so many have before them. It's a great big world with lots of booguns, bout the best you can hope for it to foster their common sense and understanding of what is right and what is unacceptable.

I just face each day as it comes!

Kinda difficult to move forward and not look at it that way....no matter what the fight it is easier if you give 'em to me one at a time.

I am just happy that my husband's children warmed up to me quickly and feel safe enough to talk to me about it, I try to be very open for them and with them...we had a slight adjustment with my son though cuz he's not use to sharing mom!

Instant family can take some adjusting all the way around, Good on you.

I have to thank my mother for that...she taught me that EVERY child needs one adult that loves them no matter what..someone they can freely talk to about anything without fear or judgement...and I try to apply that to everyone

You guys are aewsome! Can we start a parenting forum so I can come to you in a few (short) years?
I agree Trina, it only takes one adult to make the difference in a kid's life...it's so sad when you hear of step parents disliking the kids, and acting like it...

Going through that with oldest GS. Dad has new GF who has a 4 yr that annoys him terribly and they can't get it through their heads GS was a only child in single father home for 8 yrs, can't just through this other kid in there an expect him not to be upset. Any suggestions? Oh and his mom is getting married and her new husband has a 6 yr old.

They get upset because he wants to stay here and not go home

And of course they expect him to be the "big boy" and be nice to your new little bro or sis, and share everything that has belonged solely to him, including the people he loves.....at least at Grandma's house it is still status quo...until Grandma and grandpa have to do the 'grownup' thing and "loving accept the new children into the family and show no favoritism"...and the hurt goes on......sometimes it seems we pay more attention to blending a cake batter than to blending a family.

When his Mom first joined our family she already had 3 sons. As far as we were concerned they were grandchildren and didn't change after he was born, until she left and then wouldn't let me see them said " you're not their Grandma, broke our hearts"
This girl I haven't figured out yet she won't let her son come over and she barely speaks to us. I try but tend to open my mouth when I probably shouldn't.
Was Easter dinner and her 4 yr old would eat nothing but dinner rolls she said he has OCD thats why. yea right Then when JJ wanted a develed egg she had nerve to say " did you clean your plate first"

JJ you got your hands full....eggs are protein, as long as a kid is getting protein, fruits/veggies, and complex carbs does it matter what order it's in? Holidays esp you can eat your RDA's out of order then have a little candy ;)

" Your child has to follow the rules I set, but my child is special and doesn't" step one in a long list of why a kid resents the Step (parent and children)

oh I read that wrong, thought it was the same child....
yikes you do have your hands full (maybe not so much your hands but your heart..only so much you can do or say, isn't there) so she is the actual stepmother now?

If I may jump in yall I would like to add to all teenage moms and dads.The thing I found to work the best when raising our three and they were of very close ages was: to keep them in some kind of sport or activity and to preach on a daily basis as to what is acceptable in society and what is not. Sure they strayed at times when they got older but always kept mom and dads teachings to heart and it kept them from making a lot more mistakes then they could have. I now have 13 grandchildren ( 6 biological and 7 extended) God help me to see them grown lol

flowers you're right, consistency is key....

JJs sounds like she is setting her kid up for a life time of excuses...can't do this because of OCD, Did this because of OCD...never learning responsibility for actions and expecting the world to automatically give this child a pass....hard cold lessons await that little one.

My dad used to say "smack that one in the head and see if you can get that pea sized brain moving again" shame it isn't that easy.

Flowers, you are so right. Consistency is an important part of helping your kids get it right. If it is no today, guess what? It is no tomorrow also. Kids learn by example first...

No not actual stepmom yet.
That is my big problem I do and say sometimes without thinking like one time my son told GS I'm your dad you do what I say. GS answer was " Grandma is your mom so you do what she says" NOT he's 35.
But I'm sure he heard that around here somewhere.

It will take time but I'm sure it will work out in the end.

I remind my son he was an only child for 8 years and spoiled rotten from Grandparents how he felt when his brother came along. He wanted something once and was told no we couldn't afford it right now his answer" If we didn't have him we could"!

Patience and time and compromise

Break over gotta go paint now.
Enjoy your day everyone

Hey, I don't mean to interrupt the Dr. Phil show here. But . . . just an idea.

I listed free seeds on Craigslist.com and Freecycle.org for Indianapolis and I had great responses. There are both organizations in Peoria. I know that must be about 45 minutes from you but other people in the area may respond. Just list your city in the subject line.

Good luck in finding homes for all your new plants!

Moon my dad said something similar.
Your right, he is suppose to start preschool soon and I forsee alot of problems. If anyone touches his things he starts screaming.

Grandpa going to build a wall down the middle of JJs( GS)room at home so he can have his own space.I picked him up one day and asked what he had been doing and he said hiding in the closet to get away from that kid.

Venice I agree never done craigslist but freecycle all the time

thanks for the idea Venice

Tinawitch!

I know you aren't a witch! But you do have some majical powers! Maybe you are a good witch! Your kids must be something else!

Actually I am a witch 5th generation as far as we can trace back! And for the most part I have to say I am pretty lucky these kids are very special to me...and well I have one (the middle child) who is very eager to learn what I have to teach about growing things and the craft....not to mention he's a pretty good cook and always willing to try something new...like I said my husband calls him my shadow