September 19, 2024 - Thursday

Ben and I had a pretty big blowup yesterday, which ended up being good for us, and things are better now between us. I don't know that we were able to really figure out any solutions, but at least we were both able to reaffirm our commitment to one another and our willingness to try. We also each got a little perspective on the others' feelings, which is always important. I am the queen of assuming other people's motives, even though I'm often wrong. Hard to believe, I know. 

We had co-op this morning and that was awesome, as always. I had to cover for the teacher in the guitar class, along with the other helper and it went more smoothly than we expected, I think. We had a bunch of technical difficulties with the TV in the classroom, but the kids were patient and kind to us while we tried to figure it all out. And for second period, which is a huge snooze fest, I got to miss the whole thing! I had a meeting with the board to work on planning when the yearbook committee will take individual and group photos. Woo! It's coming up!

My afternoon was more difficult than my morning because I had agreed to watch Anne's kids while she went to a pre-evaluation meeting for Ben. Sadly, some of the kids were pretty terrible. I was desperate to get tf out of there but ended up watching them for about two hours. The older kids are better now (although there was a fistfight I had to break up and a big mess resulting from it that I had to force the boys to clean up), but Jacob, in particular, is a mess at this age. I feel like a lot of it is boredom, maybe? Or trying to make other people laugh? But our time started with him dumping a big bucket of mud out and then rubbing everything through it that he could find: toys, himself, socks, stuffies, brooms. Shit just got absolutely out of control and, as it did, the older boys just sort of disappeared...and I was left on my own to try and figure out how to calm Jacob down. I ended up counting him, which worked, partially, and we walked around the yard trying to find fun things, which didn't really work very well. It turns out, though, that Anne is totally fine with the behavior that made me want to strangle Jacob, so I counted him for things he is allowed to do normally. Very confusing for both of us, I think! Anyway, I survived, but unhappily. 

I didn't end up taking any pictures, despite my best intentions, so here's a photo from Maine last year.