Disneyland was a blast. I’ll make another entry later with details.
We got home Sunday the 8th, and I was starting to feel a cold coming on. I worked Monday morning so I downed some Nyquil and hoped to sleep it off. No such luck. I ended up working every day last week. I was sick as a dog, but I worked. I actually tried to call in sick Thursday, but made the mistake of answering the phone around 10 in the morning from a dead sleep and had them ask that I come in as they were unable to get a hold of anyone else. So… I went in. At least the paycheck will be nice.
I had #1 drive me to the Emergency room Sunday night where I was diagnosed with a sinus infection on top of the cold. I went home with meds and instructions to take it easy. I’m finally starting to feel a bit better today after 2 days taking the meds. With any luck I’ll be a lot better by the weekend!
Hubby has also been working non-stop since we got back, Sunday will be his first day off since we got home and he is looking forward to spending some family time while he can. He works again next weekend, and I believe he has Guard the weekend after that, so he won’t have another day off until sometime in the middle of May.
#1 managed to get himself suspended again last week, and is home from school until Friday. After all the happenings this week with Virginia Tech, I sat down and had a talk with him. While I know he would not follow through on the threats he has gotten in trouble for in school, the teachers don’t (which is why, I explained to him, he gets suspended for them each time). We discussed acceptable and non-acceptable verbalizations of his anger and frustration at school.
Good:
I’m angry and need some quiet time.
I’m frustrated with this situation.
I’m angry/frustrated and need to go talk with (insert name here of a teacher or support staff he is comfortable talking with).
I think I need some quiet time/time out so I can cool off.
Bad:
You’ll pay for that/I’ll get you for that
Do that again and I’ll break your fingers.
I’m so angry I could feed you to my dog.
Any other verbalizations of violent behavior.
The sad part of all this is that kids (hormone infused teens to be precise) are so overwhelmed with what their bodies are going through, as well as learning to function in new situations as they make the transition to high school and/or college, are left with so few options when they do feel angry, frustrated and overwhelmed, due to the actions of just a few kids. I can remember saying things myself as a teenager when I was so overcome with different emotions, and those things now would get me suspended or expelled. Even good natured ribbing between friends (“I’ll get you” said with humor and mock anger) that used to occur is now grounds for suspension or expulsion. How can kids today express themselves when they are frustrated and overcome/overwhelmed with emotion?
How much worse can it get before it gets better, and will it ever get better?