Can we all say S-u-r-v-i-v-e-d........

Actually, if I may quote my grandsons, I had a good time. God knew what He was doing when he turned a woman's biological clock off or at least on standby at an early age. I just couldn't move fast enough to really catch them when they did something I had just said no to. I tried to train them to give me a heads up if they planned to disobey but that was fruitless. I finally found when I gave them permission to do something only if they were willing to take the consequences did they start to make good choices. Joshua and I had to come to an agreement. He was not cooperating and he looked at me quite calmly and stated "you not in charge" quite confident that he had the last word. This was a pivotal point in our week ahead so I firmly pulled him from the tub sorta like giving birth and slapped his backside to see if he was breathing. At which he looked at me and stated "me and Namuel are big and we in charge" and promptly sat on the floor ala nude with a defiant look and we were headed for the battlefield. Now 59 with bad back and knees I had to choose the battle I needed to win. So I left him there on the cold tile and Sam and I went to watch a movie on the TV with the instruction to Joshua to get clothes on and join us if not we would see him in a couple of hours. I looked up later and he is carrying mis matched pajama's.

I remember a little girl one time saying to me when she was in trouble and I started to count 1, you need to stop, 2 get out of there, I am almost to three, 2, come on get in here, at which she promptly turned with hand on hip and said "i'll wait till you get to 10" Put a pair of pigtails on that little head of Josh and you have Kim's twin. Ha

As the years pass you forget the time spent trying to raise your children. I have even said I don't remember John, Tom, and Kim acting that way. Well, memories fade and when placed in the same environment I recalled those days gone by. Each boy has their own personality and they have needs for attention. Joshua I decided just screams louder and longer, (kim's same determination) ha. Sam is quiet and is a peace maker and gives in and up rather than fight. He has a low frustration rate. Sam is a deep thinker after this episode with Josh he said to me "MOP, when someone is yelling and getting in trouble it makes me feel like crying" at which he put his head down and cried. He seem to struggle the most with his parents gone. Although he didn't talk about their absence, he was definitely having moments of missing them.

Kim's computer would not work while there, I know what you are thinking, how do you survive without the internet. My answer, ok. We established eating out each night, then putting on our pajama's, reading the book Samuel had for homework, watching something they should not watch and saying our prayers and going to bed. Sam I do believe will be a preacher, he is very serious and told me I needed to go to Sunday School so I can go to Heaven and I needed to join Weight Watchers. So I am taking both suggestions under advisement.

I loved the hugs, and the impromptu shows of laughter and just being silly. I love to hear them talk about each other and how they hugged each other right before they punched the other. The last day I was putting on Joshua's shoes, after giving him the choice to go barefooted, he looked up and said " you know what?" I said "what" "I love you".

The only other problem was my getting sick which did not help me cope at times. Or that something had dumped the the trash all over the yard and the neighbors. My experience at my Work and Witness was rewarding. I enjoyed the hugs and if you are single that is something you can't do alone. So ask me if I would do it again.