The problems with the solution

My son came and got his daughter. Just like that, no fuss, no stalling, no complaining. "Well, that was easy", I thought to myself. I should have known better. It was less than 24 hours before the calls and text messages starting. Pleas for help, tirades of how this is tearing his marriage apart, ruining his finances, etc., etc., and that was just Day One. Day Two arrives, and his wife left, said she couldn't handle it. Day Three, the wife returns and proceeds to spew venomous text messages at me, and I just wait for the rest. Day Four, oh Day Four, she started her period. Frantic calls again. My reply? "Why do you think I sent you the pads and briefs?" Day Five comes with no morning call or text. I feel trepidation, wondering if this is the calm before the storm. Late afternoon, and I hear the peep of my cell phone. It's my son, of course. He now tells me that he never knew what I had done for him for the past five years, and that he can't do it. I tell him he only has to do it for a few more weeks, and she will be back with us for nine months. Today is Day Nine, and no calls at all. Is is possible that the tough love that was so hard to institute is actually working? Could he actually be adjusting to having his daughter and taking responsibility for her? I will be waiting anxiously for tomorrow, but in the meantime I am basking in the glow of having a life again, even if only for a brief interlude.

A solution to the problem...I hope

I think we may have happened upon the solution for the summertime blues. We have told my son (Chelsea's dad) that he WILL keep his daughter through the summer months. He came and picked her up last night. It will be much better for her than sitting around all day with us old folks. She has two siblings to play with, a great big sturdy dog, and a fenced yard. No more sitting in front of the television all day in the summer. It is definitely what is best for her. My son lives just a few blocks away, so I am comfortable that I can drop in any time I feel the need to check on her. The thing is, I feel sad about the whole thing. Sad because I had to force her dad to take her for a few weeks. Sad that she seems to be the child no one wants, other than me, and I can't manage taking care of her with the other responsibilities in my life, all of which are necessary. I wonder what will become of her in the future. Will she be one of those people sitting in an institution, grasping for any little morsel of attention? I will do my best to prevent that from happening, but I am only one person, and one person with a ton of responsibility. It's just all so sad.

I really hate summer

Yes, this is one of my dark, depressing posts. Sorry, but this is where I vent, and hopefully get some encouragement. School is out for the summer, which means 24/7 Chelsea. It also means my hubby is too depressed to do anything around the house, which in turn means I work all day and then come home to clean up and take care of things, then start my data entry job. Every year I have trudged through the summer, but this one is different. I am sick. I am struggling to get through every day at work, and hoping I won't lose my job, but it is so hard to keep going when I feel like I do. I have to try to stay awake to do the online work at night in spite of meds that make me sleepy. Then there is the stress of wondering how this will all turn out. The doctor suspects MS, and if that is true, what will become of Chelsea? How ironic to have sacrificed so much of my life to keep her safe, only to have to send her somewhere else. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up, folks, I really don't.

Vocabulary software - interesting learning tool

I just happened upon this software that helps with learning vocabulary and pronunciation, and who of us wouldn't like help teaching that? It has a free trail trial download link available, so you can try before you buy. I personally think this is pretty cool stuff! If you're interested in checking it out, just click on the post title and you're there.