The Brick Goes Down!

Well, not *really*. Sal got hit in the head at basketball yesterday. She cried and wouldn't let Coach Becky out of the bear hug she locked on her. But finally they got her to run down the court and the whole place cheered. Except me - I had missed the whole thing - I was sitting by little Emily - who, had been given her baby brother and I was fighting every urge I had to grab the child. I was SURE he was going head first down the bleacher stairs. Thank God Grandma came over and took him. Thank you - I could watch the game again.

Sal was no worse for the wear and was even excited about her team winning the game. Which is new - before she didn't have a clue or seem to care.

We also had swimming on Saturday. Oh my, how I forgot how "fun" swimming is. Or should I say dressing after swimming. Ughhh. Sal is just *starting* to put clothes on by herself and when she's wet - forget it. It's hard enough for me to get stuff on her.

I sat next to a troubled Mom who was sweating her kid screaming in the water. :-) I think she was wishing there was vodka in the coffee cup she had. :-) I told her about Jack who at age 5 screamed almost every swimming lesson and now at age 7 he's a darn fish and LOVES the water. The smile that came across her face told me she was in need of hearing that. I told her I knew exactly how she felt, do I push him? Do I let him quit? If I push him will he fear the water? I told her I thought she was doing the right thing in just letting him sit in on the lesson and not letting him get out but also not pushing him to do the "swim" thing - but letting him sit and then play ring around the rosie with the class. She was a very nice and thanked me for talking to her. When Sal came over she gave me a look and I explained the "Sal story". She told me her sister was autistic. I tell ya, God ALWAYS draws us together. It's certainly not "usual" for me to talk to anyone without them speaking first - but this lady seemed so lost in her world-plus, I shouldn't have even been on that side - but our instructor had said the kids would be on that side and then at the last minute changed - so I just stayed - and then we find this out about each other. God sure seems to work overtime sometimes. :-)

It was nice to meet up with someone who "gets it" this weekend. It was a rough two days with the kids by myself. It's like sometimes they just feed off each other and there's no talking to them. Like a full moon kind of thing. Jack especially seemed like a kid off his Ritalin.

They got paid tonight and as promised Sal was missing .50. She did not have good days at school on Thurs and Friday and we had told her that it was part of her "job description" if she wanted to receive her full allowance. I think she got the message when we paraded Jack's full allowance in front of her. And let me tell you - we were GENEROUS with his because he *should* have had deductions but I wanted to make an example for Sal. I told Jack that this week he would be "graded" more sternly - meaning his little smart mouth better stay silent more - much more.

Market Day tomorrow - wish I was going to work. I'm a little tired of Market Day - plus I may not have Bill to help - which leave me and only me. Ugghh. I'm hoping to rope in Mary with a sob story tomorrow. :-)