Just me venting!

Made it to Wednesday.  It has finally calmed down at school.  I have never passed out this many medications ever!  The incoming 8th graders are a mess (in more ways than one).  I have to work at the k-1st grade building on Friday.  There is a very sick child who has to be fed with a syringe.  We are a school NOT a hospital, but some classrooms you wouldn't know it.  I truly feel if you are not able to be educated in the least bit - school is not for you.  I am not saying anything against the handicapped - the majority of them can be taught a lot of things!  But, we actually had a child who had no brain - just enough of a brain stem to tell his heart to beat and his lungs to expand!  That child sucked millions from our school district's money.  We HAD to provide everything for him to get him to school and while at school and then home again.  The parents got to keep and demand more equipment from us.............  okay - I am off my soap box.  I know a lot of people are not aware of the dollars that go out of our budget for children who need 24 hour care and during the school day - the school provides it.  

I guess I am still stressed out from my son.  Nothing new to report - other than he did get his GED and received a scholarship for doing so well on it.  We have been back to school for two weeks now and have had about three kids arrested for drugs and violence.  Makes sense doesn't it?  There are violent offenders/drug dealers sitting next to your child at school, but my child gets expelled his senior year because he drove a friend to do a senior prank.  UGH!

Anyhow - I have vented - my brain wont explode and I no longer have a kitchen table (the people who bought it at the yard sale came and got it (darn))..... oh, I have yet to break the news about my son to my parents............... 

Lord Have Mercy!!

Well, what started out to be a pretty good first day back at school ended up rather.... well, sucky to be exact.  After lunch I got a text message from a friend saying "I just read the newspaper and know that I am praying for you."  Let me tell you when a text comes across with those words - you know it can't be good.  We hit the front page for the fourth time!  Mind you three men beat the stew out of a farmer and left  him for dead and he is now blind in one eye ALSO four juveniles vandalized a teacher's home to the tune of $240,000.00 (that's right - no type O there) and they HAVE NOT made the front page four times.  WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?  My son gives a friend a ride and is charged with a felony!  I am telling you, if I could up and quit my job today, I would. The school superintendent told me that it would not be privy information to the newspaper.... the information being that Kyle got suspended.  Once again the paper made it sound like Kyle cut the trees down.  I couldn't get home fast enough and refused to take my youngest daughter to Walmart to get her school supplies............ I'll have to leave the house soon enough to go back to school in the morning (after everyone has read the paper!).  Both of my girls had to sit through first day back to school lectures where the "tree cutting/vandalizing issues were repeatedly brought up.  When one family member screws up - everyone suffers.  I don't care what anyone says - it's a family sentence.

Lord have mercy!!!  Oh  yeah, my husband was nice enough to cook dinner AND take Abbie to Walmart for school supplies.  I will repent and return to normal tomorrow......... tonight, I am going to feel sorry for myself.

It's been a while!

It has been a while since I last visited! ha!  Been busy at work.  Had to go back to school the first of this month.  Tomorrow is the first day of school!  It is always fun to be there when the new 8th graders are lost and so unsure of themselves.  It will be total chaos!  My youngest daughter will be joining me at my school!  She has the advantage of knowing the school because she always had to wait there for me to get off of work.  We have our school computers blocked - so I can't blog or check on any blogs! :(

My husband is home - this is not a good thing.  He was supposed to be flying until September - this will really cut into our income.  We may be leaving for Montana a lot sooner than planned!

My son has taken his test for his "Arkansas State Diploma" - that is french for GED.  If he passes he will use his scholarship to start college as a freshman on Aug. 28th - say a prayer that it all goes well.  I just say he clept out of his senior year............ a slight embellishment there....

but it sounded good.  Still have not told my parents anything.  They are still at the Oregon coast on their 50th anniversary trip.  They will be home next week............ I'll do it then........

Gas is UP and Temps are DOWN!

Montana.....

There were beautiful sunsets................. if you can see it through the bug stained windshield of my truck......

the gas was at an all time high - highest I paid was in  Montana (Billings & Eddie's Corner).. AND the temperature was 68 DEGREES when we got there (WHAT IS UP WITH THAT???).

Of course it got hotter than all get out during the day! but we FROZE at night!

Of course we stopped by Mount Rushmore on our way through the ENTIRE state of South Dakota....... (the kids are posing as the appropriate president!).  Great stopping place even though I fell on the "strenuous trail....."  Nothing serious, just a bruised knee and ego....

Then of course I make the kids pose every year in Fort Benton in the tee pee and along the river walk......... it's a mother thing!

On the road again!

We made it home (FINALLY).  That is the longest drive!  But, we will be making it again here shortly.  We are going home to stay in December.  It was a hard decision, but now a relief that it is made.  My biggest loss will be my job that I dearly love!  I am the school nurse at our local junior high.  I have the same hours as my kids.  I am able to attend every sporting event they are in (volleyball, basketball and cheerleading).  I don't even have to pay at the home games because I am an employee.  The school board and superintendent are aware that my son did not go on school property nor cut down any trees.  He just dropped off the young man who did do the damage.  For several years now, the seniors that have done the pranks have gotten off with paying for the damages.  They have never been able to "punish" anyone because they had graduated.  Not so this time, my son has become their target of "making an example" out of.  They have even told me that. I see both sides of the argument.  I know they need to stop the pranks.  But the punishment does not fit the crime.  My son would be expelled for half the school year and then be sent to the alternative school for the last half.  He will not get to graduate with his class (if he is able to catch up on his expelled homework and graduate at all). He is not allowed on school property.   

I will post pictures of my trip asap!  I did enjoy my time there and feel a load taken off of my mind!

The letter

Got a letter in the mail from the school board.  It isn't a good one!  My son will more than likely be expelled.  He will not be able to graduate from the school he has attended since the 5th grade.  UGH!  He has a 4.0 at the college where he takes two hours of class.  He even won a scholarship from that school (good for one year after high school graduation)......  he will not get to "walk" nor attend any sporting events or have any privileges that come with being a senior.  

I do not know what to do.

before the rain.....

It is now raining!  The good news is I did get in a couple of hours at the pool with my girls.  I am taking care of a friends pool and plants while they are at the beach (without me!).  My son met with his lawyer at 4 and came back with a much better outlook on life.  I am grateful for this.

I do not condone destructive behavior but I can't imagine destroying an 18 year olds life before it even begins.  There is still hope for him......

My life, my mess

Summer is slipping away.  Believe it or not, life goes on (with or without you).  Each day is easier than the last.  I was sleeping on a float in my girlfriends pool in her backyard when I got the call that my son had (or was in the process) of getting arrested.  I haven't been back to her pool since.  That was about two weeks ago - give or take.  Can  you believe I can't actually tell you the day it happened?  I am on my summer break, I work at the school and am off until August 1st.  I don't keep up with days or the time!  Unless something important is coming up - then I remind myself every now and then what day it is.  We are in a "holding pattern" as my pilot husband would say.  All we can do is wait.  July 30th my son will plead "not guilty" (by reason of insanity - mine) to the felony charge.  What happens after that.... I do not know.  I believe we get a court date.  We will all go - the girls included.  We hurt as a family, we heal as a family.  This isn't just happening to my son, we are all living this nightmare.

 

P.S. Clarification

I should probably clarify the felony part............ make no mistake, he has been charged with a felony.  We had a bondsman ($1,500.00) and hired a lawyer ($2,000.00/retainer) and we will be going to court.............. but I haven't completely ruled out all hope for my son.  As reckless as he can be - he can be so smart (is that a form of bipolar I wonder?) Anyhow.... my son gave his friend a ride.  That is his greatest crime.  That and the fact that his friend (whom he gave a ride) took a chainsaw to the high school and sawed off five trees in the courtyard.  Criminal mischief, felony. We made the papers, three times so far, front page.  The only thing the paper got right was his name and our address.  They made it sound like they plotted and planned and destroyed together.  As far as their statements (and the police report) his friend took 100% of the blame, wanted to do a senior prank (my son still hasn't stopped saying "I wasn't a senior"), and copied what others had done before him.  There was no plotting or planning.  Only instead of cutting one tree down, he cut five.  My son never stepped foot on school property.  He never got out of the vehicle.  He just dropped his friend off and drove away......

I made the mistake of saying (yes, OUT LOUD and in public) that I know my son didn't do it, he isn't motivated enough to do five trees.  Technically he didn't.... but there is this little tiny problem we are having.... the law in Arkansas says he did.  My son was held back in the first grade, therefore he hasn't graduated yet - but he did turn 18...... He is an adult (at least in age).  We will pay, in more ways than one, for my son's stupidity.  

Did I happen to mention that my son has a full scholarship,  good for one year after graduating from high school?  or that I work for the school........ 

My #1, my son

It is hot and humid out today..... with chances of rain.:(  Ate lunch with him today (usually everyday).  He is acting his normal self with no sense of reality.  Hard to believe that he is going to be a senior this year.  He technically, should have graduated this last year.  Part of me wishes that he had.... He is in no way ready for life.  It is mainly my fault.  I have not prepared him for anything.  The two girls are much easier to relate to and deal with.  I always thought Mo would step up to the plate and take over raising him or at least help.  He never did.  I should have known and changed my strategy when he hit 13.  It is too late now.  He has been charged with a felony........