My 16 year old has hit young adulthood with a vengance - bugger!

Recently Mick introduced me to a new friend - he had met her after work and had taken to wandering the shopping centre with her till I finished work and was ready to take him home.  The new friend is a young female street kid who is pregnant (the father was her best friend and he left her to join the Navy when he found out she was pregnant - or so Mick has been told).  I was dubious, but willing to give the girl the benefit of the doubt.  I did warn him not to share our address, and also warned him about the possibility of shoplifting and what that would do for his career prospects.

Hubby picked Mick up from work a few days later, and came home with this girl in tow.  She had cried when Mick was supposed to leave and said she was scared of someone.  So hubby brought her home and told her she could stay with us.  HMMM OK. After spending an hour or so at our home, she received a phone call and said she wanted to meet a friend - so hubby drove her there and told her to call when she needed to be picked up - HMMM OK - she is obviously really frightened.  11:30pm we get the call - so off drives hubby to pick her up.  I sleep on the lounge to keep an eye on things.

The next day - I went to work and Mick and this girl came with me.  I tell Mick he is to be home by 5pm.  She says - Ohhh Mum what time do I have to be home - so I say 5pm also.  Mick arrives home at 5pm - no sign of the girl.  Mick calls her, and she says she is at a party, but will call in time to be picked up for dinner.  7pm Mick calls her, and she says soon.  9pm - Mick calls her - she is drunk and will sleep at a friends place. 

The next day - I am talking about this girl to the friends at work, when she walks past.  When I point her out, one of the girls say "OMG - It's that little ****" .  Her son had seen her the year before crying in a garage and had bought her home.  She stayed for one night, swore and cursed, and was thrown out when she was found stealing money from the sons wallet.  Son finished work and I met him and explained what I had been told.  I said it was his decision, but I needed him to be very careful.  I asked him if she had been asking him for money.  He looked guilty.  She had not asked him for money, but had been complaining that the clothes we had loaned her were too big, and she was worried about falling and hurting the baby.  I have been trying to teach my son the importance of saving, and he had over $400 in the bank.  But she played on his weaknesses and he was left with $50 after buying her new clothes.  I went absolutely off my nut, confiscated his keycard and sent him home with instructions that she was not welcome in my house again.

Spoke to the shopping centre where we both work.  She is well known to them.  Makes a habit of picking the sensitive young men and working them like a fish on a hook.  She does not make any sexual advances, but makes them feel special, and calls them her "big brother".

I have not forbidden Mick from seeing her.  In this shopping centre where he works, that would be impossible.  Not to mention that doing that would make her even more appealing. He has a girlfriend now - who seems quite nice and who also knows this girl and does not like her. All I can do is continue to watch the situation like a hawk, and God help her if she hurts my son.

I decided to take my children to the "Egyptian Antiquities from the Louvre" exhibition yesterday. My eldest piked out on me - saying he wanted to go out with his friends (sigh, its started).  Soooo my youngest said he would come with me cause it sounded sort of interesting.

Anyways, I throw Ben into the shower, and sit down at the computer to try to work out why it is lagging like a sick dog - and has been for three days.  Next thing I know, it is 10:30 (and the computer is still *censored* well lagging).  Jump up and throw myself in the shower, telling Ben to grab some breakfast.  Get dressed and realise that I need some breakfast cause I dont think I ate the day before.  Sit down and have some toast and a glass of milk.  Look at the clock, ARRRRGH, just missed the bus - gotta wait for another hour (damn I hate this new bus timetable) Oh well, I'll just have some more food and read a book.  Look at the clock and realise I'm just about to miss the next bus. Race out the door, run to the bus stop, wait for 15 minutes until I realise that I've missed it again. GRRRR I'll just walk to the other bus stop for the different route.  Just to see that bus driving off as I round the corner.   I'm not going home now!!!

Eventually get on a Bus, go to Tuggers, then Woden, then Civic, change buses and go to the National Museum of Australia.  Those of you who live in Canberra will be saying Oh No at this point.  Wander aimlessly around the museum looking for the signs to the Egyptian exhibit, slightly surprised that it isnt better advertised. Walk back to the information desk and ask where the exhibit is.  Bloke behind the desk gives me a pitying look and says "that would be on the other side of the lake in the National Gallery".  OH ********* !!!!!  Ben pats me on the shoulder and says "Poor Mum, do you want to go home".  By this stage I'm getting to this damn exhibit even if it kills me.

After that it wasnt too bad.  Sat in the 30 degree heat and waited for the next bus which took us to the gallery.  Enjoyed the exhibit.  Ben studied Ancient Egypt last year in school, so it brought to life what he had studied.  He enjoyed himself playing tour guide for his poor old Mum.  Years ago, I went to the Tutenkhamun Exhibit (from the Egyptian Gallery) in Sydney, so it was not particularly mind blowing for me. However it was interesting, and I loved seeing the Book of the Dead scrolls.

Ben bought his brother a sacred cat deity as a giftie and I bought a pouporri sachet called Arabian Nights, impregnated with essential oils to assist sleep.  Man oh man it works.  Sitting on the bus on the way home, when WHACK, the back of my head hit the back bar of the seat as I fell asleep.  Never, ever had that happen to me before.  Think I will have to go back and get a few more sachets and seal em in plastic bags for later use.  Gotta tell ya, hubby will be driving me there this time!

Seven and a half foot tree.  Three sets of Christmas lights. 5 fourty ltr plastic boxes full of Chrissy decorations.  Hmm - I think I have a problem.  Just at this moment realised that I have forgotten to take down the wreath and the wall hangings - NOOOOO.

Hubbies gone to bed, the children are asleep, my world is peaceful and quiet.  Truely a wonderful start to what I hope is a fabulous (or at least better) new year.

Just came home, with the realisation that I have three whole days of work.  The phone is going off the hook, the "do not disturb - on threat of death" sign is going up on the front door.  WOO HOO.

I'm going to clean my fridge, play runescape, surf minti, play runescape.   Clean out my kitchen cupboards, play runescape, surf minti.  I'm going to sleep easy without having to worry about missing the alarm in the morning (because I'm hearing impaired, if I'm lying on my better ear, I sleep right through it). 

Oh Joy Oh Rapture.

I am soooo tired. My house is a pigsty. I have not folded the clothes. Sitting here typing I can see a spiderweb, but dont have the energy to grab a duster and get rid of it. I've worked 10 hours a day for ever (well maybe a week). My scoliosis is not coping with being upright for that long, so I come home from work, take bulk painkillers and burst into tears. I've just been told I have to work on Christmas eve, GRRRR.

Positives - hmmm tough one

I'm alive (I'm sure that must be a positive).  Working has given me the money to pay the bills and buy the presents. It rained today - I think we got maybe 10 drops. I had some quiet time with my youngest today, when he fell asleep against my shoulder (its been a long time since that happened)

I'm tired, I'm grumpy and I'm going to bed.

Nighties All

Just found jenelmens advice on this - and thought WOW what time to I really spend connecting with my teenagers. I mean we all play Runescape (an internet computer game) and discussions about this are daily, usually referring back to friends and lifeskills. I try to talk about how their life is going, but I tend to be a little overbearing (OK maybe a lot overbearing)   How much time do my boys actually get my full attention nowdays. 16 and 14 year olds are not easy to talk to, secretive, sullen little beasties that they are.

I'm going to take the total attention challenge, and spend 15 minutes twice a day, reconnecting with my boys. Might even include hubby in the attention challenge, it would make a change for him to have my undivided attention.

What a week.

Tuesday was Michaels graduation and formal. Yeehah he graduated, believe me - its been doubtful he would make it. "Needs to socialise less and work more in class" is a statement I have learned by rote. The graduation was ummmmm enlightening. Gorgeous young men and women in formal attire (except for the kid in suit coat, tie, 3/4 shorts and sneakers) all ready to start the next phase of their lives. Totally unable to follow a simple command, teachers had to resort to grabbing a few of the kids by the hand and leading them to where they were supposed to sit. Made many parents reassured that their little boy (or girl) was not really grown up!.

Wednesday we were invited to award presentation night at the High School. Ben had been given an award again this year. It was maths last year. Finished work raced home, threw on some good clothes and took of for the school. Sat through the usual deadly speeches then got the wonderful news that Ben had received the Maths award again this year WOO HOO. Dont know where he gets his maths skills from - certainly not me.

Thursday Friday and Saturday - Worked, Worked, Worked. Retail at Christmastime - EWWW

Saturday night Michael went to a party. He was excited because it was the first party he had been to that was not a Birthday Party. Just a lets get together and socialise time. Picked him up at 11pm. He whinged and groaned a bit, but was thankful when his father woke him up at 6am to get ready for work.

Sunday - Its amazing just how disgusting a house can get in one week. Washed, mopped, swept and dusted my little heart out.  Fitted a years worth of Christmas shopping in as well. Was going to make the Christmas puddings but they can wait till tomorrow.

Oh my. I'm used to seeing my eldest with legs you couldnt run a whippersnipper through.

But my youngest growing a moustache is just beyond a joke !!!!!

Mick is going to his Year 10 graduation and formal tomorrow night.  There is no way my baby is ready for college.  Where have the last 16 years gone! Took him to get his outfit - not doing the usual thing and wearing a suit, its black pants, black shirt and a black, dragon embroidered vest - Roy Orbison eat ya heart out!. Gotta admit it - my son is growing up into a bit of a chick magnet - little hottie that he is.

Ben is taking out an award at school again.  He got science last year, wonder what it will be this one.