Interesting developments…
Last night Prince arrived home from work with a look of absolute distress. He kept asking over and over “How much did the mitts and stuff cost?” Then I thought he was going to throw up when I said “About $50″.
Apparently his boss had asked him to help another worker clean up a molasses spill that destroyed hundreds of dollars of product. FHB showed the mitts etc. to Prince who, instead of taking them to his locker, set the bag in a box where they were working. He didn’t know another thing until the recycler took the palette with the box on it. When he realized what happened, he PANICKED!!!!!
He raced to get help only to discover that the boxes were dumped into a shoot to the basement where a compactor destroyed everything. He said he was scared to come home because he didn’t know what my reaction would be. He offered to pay for the items but he was sooooooooooooooo upset that I just explained that it wasn’t really his fault. We debriefed how he might have handled things differently another time. He said he should have left the guy on the ladder and gone to his locker.
All evening he kept apologizing and offering to pay me back. I said I would go to Work Warehouse and get him some items. He indicated that he had several of his dad’s things at school and promised to bring them home tonight.
Well…..things were VERY different this morning (since I implemented the new policies).
Prince had actually shut his alarm off and was out of bed by the time that I arrived to wake him. The washer and dryer were already working. I sat in the white chair until he was in the shower (as promised). He smiled and shook his head with a kind of disbelief that I meant what I said.
Then off to wake FHB. I indicated that I was not leaving his room until he was in the shower. He rolled over, passed a VERY loud fart and said “Will you still stay in my room?” I fooled him. He went to the shower!
The boys arrived for breakfast and FHB wondered why all he was getting was pumpkin muffins. I invited him to help himself to a second muffin or yogurt (I don’t work here – I’m a guest).
Then the MIRACLE – Prince started looking for a hat to wear to school. He searched and searched. Then FHB offered to give him the one that I purchased last night for FHB. He LOVED it and FHB said “Don’t worry, Grandma. I already have one and buying another is a waste of money”. Collaboration!!!!!!
Maybe it was the stories that I have been telling about Rob and Mark (6 years apart) who are “friends” and curl together?????
These two are actually meeting each other’s needs now. SHOCK!
FHB informed me that the other kids think his napkin messages are stupid but followed this with “I kind of like them. Are you writing another one for me?”
Today’s had a drawing of a baby chicken and said “Chick out your sandwich. My mother gave it to you!” (The sandwich is egg salad). (Seems he is looking forward to the “stupidity”.
Then FHB said that he would be ready once he had brushed his teeth. (He added “Dad would have told me a hundred times by now”). I have NEVER reminded him this week. He just does it! Seems someone is wasting his breath when FHB can do this on his own.
Well, THEY were at the car BEFORE me!!!!! In fact, they chided me for being 3 minutes late (Like Greyhound the bus pulls out on time – 8 a.m.)
With smiles they told me that I should hurry in the morning or they would go without me.
When I accidently openned the doors to Red Seal’s car and the lights went on they quoted me “Grandma, you need work”. Both were smiling.
I challenged them to try these new behaviours with Red Seal to SHOCK her!
We arrived at school EARLY!
FHB was sooooooo happy to be there and we laughed as he slapped another kid on the back as he entered.
We were at the high school by 8:22 am – with Prince in a HAT! I noticed that some of the classrooms had lots of students already and Prince said some arrive at 6:30 am so I offered to wake him early – he said “It’s okay, grandma”.
I waved with energy as I drove away and he smiled.
The driveway is HORRIBLE – but I don’t care. I just hope Adam isn’t upset when he gets home. We have had sooooooo much snow and more is coming. They have kept it good from the back of Kristal’s car to the street. Also, we think the deer took us up on the new experiment as the front sidewalk is clear – and we DIDN’T SHOVEL.
Well….I checked the voice mail (15 calls) and returned them, asking everyone to reply by email. 
Then I started fielding life.
First the meter man came for me to open the gate. I explained that the lock is to keep people like him out so Daisy doesn’t escape.
Daisy then asked for a drink and I complied.
Then Nathan (the drum teacher called) and I had an excellent visit with him. He is ill so cancelled today’s lesson (will make up in January). He said that Prince has good talent and skills but the spark isn’t there anymore. He thinks it might be because he isn’t in a band or group. I explained that he doesn’t practise but that we had a musical family. We agreed that next week Nathan would talk with Prince about a new idea. His neighbour, Jeff, teaches guitar, and they would put the two guys together for a half hour session so that they could have some fun. I told him about Mahoney and how they started their group in high school and now are full-time musicians. COOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL.
Nathan wants Alexander to continue with lessons (even though he wants to quit) but believes his motivation will come from actually playing with someone else. I’m “in” and agreed to talk with him tonight about it and to inform Red Seal of the plan. Nathan states it is his “age”.
It’s 11:24 and I am tired (again). Maybe I should have an Obama (Health Care is HOT) fix and a nap. Or CHICK out the egg salad.
Glad Prince is home tonight. Might get my Iphone, a scarf and then hopefully Ghandi while we eat pizza (our first junk food night – I bought a frozen one to cook).
Oh, and by the way, after school they are allowed one pair of shoes at the front door (heels to wall) and coats must be hung in closet. We do garbage and recycling (without much coaching) as needed. I’m more into maintenance than power cleaning. First task after school is for FHB to run Daisy in the back yard (how would he feel if we ignored him?????)
Life is good. I made a comment in the car this morning “I hope your parents don’t come back and mess you guys up”. The reply was “They probably will”. I hope not. They are going great with the new regime.
Just another day in Paradise.
lindahancock
