NIGHT OWLS ONLY - OPEN: 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. (4th Call)

Just the age of MY favorite grandson. Well, they're all my favorite,
but my 7 year old REALLY likes me.

I'm very conflicted about spanking. Some kids don't care if they get spanked. I guess I'd rather offer him a different way to cope with other kids than hitting them. Did you spank his father?

Eweed, how is your back and how are you feeling?

I've been thinking about your grandson fighting and was wondering about a few things. First, I guess, is whether they have asked him why he is fighting. Does he dislike the other kids; does he like to fight. etc. I also wonder about his diet. Wheat, sugar and milk are often triggers for "bad" behavior. And, does he get enough exercise. He may be burning off extra energy. Finally, If he like fighting, could he be enrolled in a class where the fighting is done with rules and is supervised?

Just some thoughts as I find myself wide awake at 2am.

katie

My grandson is 7 and will be 8 in January. His mother and her family don't believe in punishing a child for misbehavior. They believe that you just need to talk to them and explain why the behavior is unacceptable. So he has had no control on him since birth and is now out of control and his mother can not figure out why he does the things he does. And when she trys to take control of him he tells her she a bad mommy and laughs at her. So she calls my son, who is a truckdriver and complains to him and tells him that he needs to take care of it when he gets home. My son is home every night, but after whestling with a 45,000 lb truck and freight all day he is not much in the mood to deal with her and his son, but he trys. He's about ready to start spanking the kid for his behavior weather she likes it or not. Talking to the kid is getting nowhere fast. He has been in Karate lessons for 2 yrs and knows he is not to use it outside the karate class except to practice at home, but he has started using it on the kids at school. And that is not acceptable at all. Next Monday he starts at the new school which is more scheduled and orderly than the open class he had been attending.

Does he always pick on smaller children? Maybe some bigger kids at the new school will step in. It is so hard especially when it has been going on for so long and the mother is ineffectual. Is there any counseling available? The mother may not believe in spanking but there has to be some form of punishment other than "wait til your father gets home." She can try to figure out "why" til the cows come home but it won't change his behavior. He needs to understand that his behavior is unacceptable. Is there counseling available? It seems like it's a lot a problem between your son and his wife and perhaps they could get some couples counseling. As long as they are disagreeing your grandson will find a way to take advantage and probably won't change. Not spanking, doesn't mean no punishment, especially for beating up other kids.

I hope they get some help before this gets worse. One almost hopes that a much bigger kid at the new school will provide some lessons.

OOps, it's after hours.

katie












This message was edited Oct 26, 2014 8:06 AM

Katie, hello. How nice to see you again. Marti, there have to be consequences of bad behavior, but l don't see how his father hitting him will teach the boy that hitting is wrong.

Our house here in Boston needs a lot of work, but the land needs A LOT of work. Porcelain berry vines have taken over much of the front garden. I think it would be kept in bounds if it were being mowed regularly, but it started in an area that was lawn, 15 years ago.

Porcelain berry is a vine from Asia that used to be an attractive ornamental. It has woody stems and beautiful little berries which can be white, purple or blue. Birds like the berries, and that's how it spreads. It's also one of those where every scrap you miss grows into another vine. You break it off and it hurts your hands because it's so strong.

Carrie Milton I think is in the central part of that state. McCool (Elaine and mike live there. I make periodic trips to visit our precious friend Maria in an Alzheimer's ward. Breaks my heart but it makes her so happy for me to visit. After I visit a few days I go to Kentucky and visit Bonnie for a few days and fish with Wayne. My back is better at last and I am starting to feel good thanks for asking,

Marti hope the docs get the cure taking place for your GS

Milton actually borders the south edge of Boston. How is the weather in WA? That's a state I would love to visit.

Carrie sorry I had the name wrong . Ug on the vines will you spray then flame burn the survivors? I have been waging war with bamboo for five years now and it is still coming up but it is beat back. Its hiding in the roots of a beautiful weeping Alaska cedar tree so it can get up a bit without being discovered .

Oh, don't worry about it!

I admit, New England is pretty in the fall. Gorgeous colors, not just long distance scenic, postcard type views but there are some really pretty weed-with-garbage-can combinations which accidentally are lovely.

I don't know what we'll do with our nasty vine. I think it grows back better after fire, maybe. I think we have to cut it back and then paint every single cut surface with strongest herbicide. It will be hard. I suggested we hire someone to remove it but Ray wants to try himself!

Marti, how's your grandson doing?

Carrie build a fence and get goats lol they will even eat bamboo.

About the poison we have been waging war on the bamboo patch for five years. We cut the tips back and within 10 seconds paint the ends with roundup. It is working. The thing sucks back in and the round up goes to the root mass, After 10 seconds it is to late.

My GS started at his new school and says he likes it. He's coming home and doing homework without a big arguement from his parents. We'll see how long before he falls back on being a pest.

It's 4am and I'm wide awake watching season 3 of Project Runway. Max gets up with me and keeps me company, probably hoping for some food but maybe also afraid I'm going to disappear again. I was gone for two months getting a lumpectomy and there were two hurricanes here during that time. The area where I live always gets the road washed out when there's a heavy rain and we become an island with no water, telephone or electricity. Tony couldn't get here for a couple of days and my neighbor Maria and her husband cut the lock to my house and fed my dogs.

I have to go back to Ca. for radiation for 4=6 weeks and am hoping I can only make one trip and, also, that I don't miss Christmas here as we have many bags of stuffed animals and my new-to-me Suburban is bright red and makes a perfect Santamobile.

Nothing I can solve at 4am so I'll lie down and rest.

hugs, katie

Oh, Katie, please take care of yourself.

I had my 3 month evaluation at my training job yesterday and past with flying colors. Now that the election is over, they are going to find time in the next month to talk to the big man and see about hiring me permanently. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Congratulations on the evaluation and good luck on getting hired long term. kb

Saw the orthro MD yesterday and he has decided that my knee is getting worse and not improving with his treatment so he is scheduling a total knee replacement for me HIs surgical nurse will call me within the next two weeks to schedule the surgery. He says I'll be out of commission for about six weeks and unable to drive, but he's wrong on that one.

Marti good news on the job prospect now don't blow it by driving to soon on it. Best to follow the rules.

Found out why my left hip as been hurting. It looks like I have a stress fracture. Having an MRI on Monday to see how bad it is or if the xray is wrong. I'm falling apart these days.

Marti good luck on Monday hope you are fracture free. Did I miss on you getting the job full time?

Thanks, Ernie. I'll post the results as soon as I get them.
Its now 4:19am here and I can't sleep. This training program I'm in for work has been interesting. The aduditors were in at work this week so as a trainee, they gave me the week off, so I've been doing studing on line and than taking tests. I've completed 12 so far. I get paid to do these so want to do as many as possible. You have to score at least 70% to pass each test, so far I'm scoring in the 80 and 90's A couple of the simple ones I scored 100%. Would love to do that on every one, but no such luck.
With the restrictions on me by my doctor until we get the results of the MRI, I can't do much as far as yard work or helping my friends move so I've been stuck here at home doing what I can. I'm getting this old trailer set up to handle me on crutches after my knee surgery if we can go ahead and do it. I am making sure everything is clear in my bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. The rest of the trailer I won't try to go into on crutches. This old single wide is a pain in the rear, but slowly I will get it fixed up. Can't afford a new one. Darn!!

More bad news!! My nephew borrowed my jeep to take his girlfriend home and while doing about 20 miles on hr (according to witnessess), he hit a slick spot and started to slide, than he lost control and rolled my jeep. Now I can't get to work or any place and no buses around here.

Seems like the nephew should be your chaueffeur.

Well I got some good news today--I guess I mean yesterday. When we moved from Boston to Dallas, I lost Medicaid. The eligibility standards in Texas are different enough and I had to pay for services out-of-pocket that are covered in Massachusetts. So as soon as I could, I reapplied for Medicaid, and I got the notice yesterday that I'm provisionally approved. FABULOUS!

Marti, i hope things are ok with you. I hope everyone else gets good news this month!

hi ya'll. waving at everone !

Waving back!

Good morning everyone! Went and saw my poor Jeep. The towing guy says its totaled, my insurance wants to take it to their yard and have an adjuster of thiers look it over. Waiting now for that to happen. I went yesterday on my lunch break and cleaned out everything that I wanted.

I've been staying away in case writing here makes me more awake. Marti, you're so smart to remember to grab car stuff. Sometimes a car can be totaled on paper but fixable, maybe if they use used parts or something like that. It's confusing though. Good luck and I am thinking of you.

This is the rear section on the drivers side of the jeep. I can not open the back hatch door. The insurance company now has the jeep and will let me know what they are going to do. Hopefully within the next couple of days as I only have the rental car til the 1st of Dec. I think I will stop after work and check out a few places for a new car. New to me, but used is all I will be able to get.

Oh, marti, it's a good thing nobody was hurt. Seeing twisted crashed cars always mskes me think "what if someone's head were there." Ouch.

I'm still waiting for the insurance company to look at my Jeep and see if it can be fixed or totalled. They tell me not to worry they are behind and will get to it someday. In the mean time, Monday the 1st of Dec I have to turn in the rental and will not have any way toget to work or Dr appointment because the insurance won't pay for the car after the 1st.
Plus I found out that due to being over booked, I probably will not have my knee surgery til some time in March or April.
Happy Holidays!!

Well Marti,, in all the turmoil , I guess ,, You can be Thankful ,for being well enough to worry , complain , Able to get around somewhat .. and that a new year and another day is coming ,,
Besides that ,, The pets still love you ! ???
You see ,, That you are still able to like yourself after all the years counts for something .

Try and Have a nice Thanksgiving , and know we would like to help if we could ..

Oh, Marti, that's a lot to deal with. A truly unpleasant combination of circumstances and the holidays to top it all off. Time to take a deep breath and maybe a nap.

I had a knee replacement two years ago and it has been great. The pre-surgery nerves were the worst part and I'm sorry your operation has been postponed. If you can use the time to get in the best physical shape possible it will pay off after the surgery.

I'm spending a month in Chula Vista. Had a lumpectomy 6 weeks ago and now need three weeks of radiation which will start on Monday. Thought I would miss Christmas in Mexico and my Santa gig but when I told the doctor she did some special checking and I will be finished on Dec.21 in time to get home for Christmas if all goes well.

Might it help to complain up the line to the insurance company since their delays are leaving you carless? Sometimes the sqeaky wheel gets the grease. And you would at least get to vent about your frustration.

big hugs, katie

Ah (katie) I'm sorry to hear about that. My mother was in that situation a year or so ago. I understand if you live long enough, you can end up facing that. What a drag. Best wishes that it is no more serious than a drag! I hope everything goes smoothly. Please keep us posted!

My husband hung the drapes in the living room today! Hallelujah! Tomorrow may be the bedroom, which would be a huge impovement.

katie, I called the insurance company and they said we should know something this week. The company that does their towing was behind and that's why it took so long to get the Jeep to their yard, but the man that will make the decision will surposedly see the Jeep Monday or Tuesday. I'm not holding my breathe. They extended the car rental til the 5th of Dec. The lastest they will extend it to is the 9th according to them. My coverage will pay up to $600.00 per incident and that means 24 days at $25.00 a day . I'm trying to save as much money as possible because I need the car thru the 12th. So will have to pay, myself, for the extra 3 days. So I am really pinching pennies right now. I was thing of looking for a new car, just incase they total mine, that way I'll be a step ahead.

3:32 and wide awake. Guess I will read awhile.

Well, I'm up for awhile. Had to rub my knees with pain med and must give it a few minutes to work before I go back to bed.

The insurance company finally figured out that my Jeep was totaled.They will pay $5944.98. That will pay off the loan on the Jeep and give me about $1,000. to use as a down payment on a new car. Well, a new used car for me. I have the rental car til the 10th than I'm on foot til they get the check to the loan company and the balance to me. Means not going to work or anywhere else.

Marti you should be able to get an extension on the car time. Point out it is not your fault the ins process is so slow. Remind them if you can't get to work you can't pay the premium

I agree with eweed. I have learned, from an expert, that pointing out how what you want is also in their best interest works almost 100% of the time.

Now I'm the one awake. DC is back for a few days, with no nose machine in sight. So snoring It's to be. I can hear it through the music on my headphones.

I keep reading and re-reading my best garden books, trying to get information to stick in my brain. I think by the sixth time through I'll remember some details. I'm just starting to build my garden and would like to start with a framework of mostly natives. The natives that still flourish here, I mean. This is my not strictly edible garden, in the front.

This is pretty much all I think about, up to the second I fall asleep. Which will happen someday. Marti, I hope things start going better for you. Kb it sounds like you are getting good, early care, and I'm glad for that.

I agree with eweed. I have learned, from an expert, that pointing out how what you want is also in their best interest works almost 100% of the time.

Now I'm the one awake. DC is back for a few days, with no nose machine in sight. So snoring It's to be. I can hear it through the music on my headphones.

I keep reading and re-reading my best garden books, trying to get information to stick in my brain. I think by the sixth time through I'll remember some details. I'm just starting to build my garden and would like to start with a framework of mostly natives. The natives that still flourish here, I mean. This is my not strictly edible garden, in the front.

This is pretty much all I think about, up to the second I fall asleep. Which will happen someday. Marti, I hope things start going better for you. Kb it sounds like you are getting good, early care, and I'm glad for that.