This evening we had, yet another one of those sit down talks that I knew was coming, but dreaded so.

At fifteen, I believe hanging out with friends away from home one night a week and having company visit one night a week is plenty.  I believe a strict curfew of 10:00 PM is plenty late enough.

The kids argued that times have changed and they should hang out more because their friends get to do more.

It’s my belief that IF a kid wants to have certain freedoms they should be able to prove responsibility at home. 

Little things like…

• Not having to remind them to take a shower
• Not having to remind them to brush their teeth
• Not having to remind them to take care of their animals
• Not having them sneak around to break rules like lights out, phones off and computers shut down.

When I tell the kids to do a chore of some sort and hours pass and they’ve not done what they’re supposed to do or they make silly mistakes that have the potential to be dangerous - that tells me they are not responsible enough to earn freedoms of more then one day a week away from home.

At the moment, I have one kid hating me royally - but doesn’t that just mean that I’m doing my job and doing it well?

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As I stated in my previous post, yesterday was going to be the day - the day I would turn this whole stressful mess around - make a strong effort to not letting the horrible messes that surround me, get to me so much - I can’t stand dirt, clutter and chaos.

Everyone was up and off doing their own thing.  I decided to grab a quick bite to eat before I headed off to a doctors appointment.  Everything seemed fine - until out of the blue my chest began to hurt like I’ve never felt before.  The pain began to move up and through my left shoulder and through my arm.  I stood from the table, began to pace my kitchen trying to shake it off.  While shaking my arm, horrible thoughts began racing through my mind… What will Trey and Coty do?  I can’t leave my kids to their father who can’t raise a carrot properly! 

I pleaded for God to help me through this — Having a grandfather who suffered heart disease - I thought back to what grandma would do.  I took three aspirin and called for my husband.  I went to my room to lay down for a bit and calm down since the pain was starting to pass - I focused on my breathing and getting my heart rate to slow. 

I kept my doctors appointment and after a few tests including an EKG, it was determined that I had experienced a full blown panic attack.

As the result of that panic attack and the horrifying thoughts of my children being left without me — I have committed to making some serious and healthy changes in my life and the main one being to realize that I can’t be everything to everyone.

Are you overwhelmed with stress?  Do you listen to warning signs as they present themselves?   What are some of the things you do in your life to fight stress and keep it at bay as much as possible?

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It’s no big secret that I’ve been a little - ok a lot on the cranky side lately.  I know we all have excuses from time-to-time and most times those excuses fall on deaf ears.  But still, there’s something freeing about sharing those excuses, no matter how serious or lame they may be.

June 4th ushered in a day like no other - a day that would set the pattern for the many days and weeks to come.  The day the Midwest Floods of 2008 began - at least here in Indiana.  My family woke to over 3 feet of water in our basement.  All we could do was take a peak into the hallows, watch as the water rushed over the bottoms of the windows like a domesticated version of Niagara Falls and then we shut the door to allow Mother Nature the time and space to do whatever it was she needed to do.

At this point, there was no saving anything.

I returned upstairs to discover my precious pocket puppy Molly was acting very ill.  I tried everything I’d been taught about Yorkies but nothing seemed to work.  I snatched her up and took her to the local vet.  He treated her with IV’s and sent her home later that day. 

The next day’s weather was calm and the rains had stopped - so recovery efforts in the basement began as did every possible method of cleanup we could muster.  Which meant dropping two extra pumps in the water and hoping for the best.

Still mostly worried about Molly, I checked in on her - again she was acting very sick.  I called my husband who held her as I loaded a syringe with Karo water in hopes it was her glucose levels again.  We got a little down her when he set her on the floor.  She began having seizures and I began panicking - at that point, I could handle the flood, but losing my precious pocket puppy - that was not an option. 

It was that day we found Molly had Parvo and was rushed to the best treatment facility in Indiana where she would recover in two days. 

Cleanup began and continues to this day.  Building walls in places where they were prior to having to tear them out.  So far we’ve had to replace the furnace, their air conditioner and the water heater - as far as major appliances.  With the help of FEMA and our insurance company, we’re processing through a very slow recovery.

As I’ve had to bid farewell to many family heirlooms I had kept sacred from my childhood - items passed down from my grandmother and her mother before her - I find myself struggling to be anything above cranky, resentful and angry.  Not at any one person - but at life in general.

Amid the cleanup efforts, we have three teenagers who are well, typical teenage boys and frankly land on my last nerve quite often and my husband told his daughter she could come stay as long as she wanted for the summer.  I had NO idea where we were going to put one more person let alone feed another and what’s more, how could I possibly do my job and do it well in the midst of such chaos.

Yesterday I woke, determined I was going to have a better day.  I was confessing a brighter day from the start and my mom always said “confession brings possession” so I thought I’d give it a try…I want so much to be the inspired, happy and hopeful person I was prior to one month ago…

(image: stock.xchg)

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “Divorce Sucks.” I was in high school when my parents divorced and it rocked my whole world, in a very emotionally damaging way. I remember, all too vividly, the heart wrenching pain that caused me to cry myself to sleep at night. The memories are so vivid, in fact, that I just want to cry when I hear a child talking about his/her parents splitting up. My son, Trenton’s,best school mate is coming over to play today. As I spoke to his dad last night, he informed me that his wife left them and it will just be the two of them from now on. I had to try not to break down as I offered my condolences.

My son’s friend is an only child. He calls Trenton his brother and follows him around like a lost puppy. They are inseparable during the school year and I wondered what he would do, come summer time, when they would not see each other every day. Now I’m just tormented, thinking about how badly his little heart must be breaking, over his family’s dissolution. He doesn’t even have a sibling to help him through this tough time. I had my sisters and we were a great source of comfort to each other. How do only children get through an experience like this?

I amalso feeling quite angry towards this boy’s mother. I can’t help it. I do not know the whole situation, of course. All I know is that this mother has chosen to abandon herson. Marriage takes two people, asdoes the destruction of it. Parenting, however, should not be compromised just because a marriage doesn’t work out. Why doesn’t this mother want custody of her son? How can she feel okay with her abandonment? My maternal grandmother left her eight kids behind, when she left my grandpa. As much as I love her, I can never respect her decision to do such an abhorrently selfish thing. Maybe I feel so strongly about it because I was on the receiving end of abandonment and I know how badly it destroys a child’s sense of security and trust. What are your feelings about this subject?

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While the writers of the b5media Lifestyles Channel may be scattered about globally, one thing we all have in common is a celebration of fireworks.  Whether it’s the U.S. and our Fourth of July - or a very different kind of holiday in Perth - we all know the unique smell that penetrates the air and the sense of freedom the mere sound of them instill.  There is truly something so divine about a celebration of fireworks - they do create some of the most treasured memories.

Chloe of Tangled Thread shares a few festive fireworks and needlework patterns.

Kerri and Cory at Marriage Actually talk about why having a shared past is one of the best parts about being married.

Heather at A Creative Journal shares her first memory of firecrackers with a view from Australia.

Christine at Mad Cropper remembers Guy Fawkes Day, a day celebrated in New Zealand with lots of fireworks. Find out why Guy Fawkes is celebrated by the English and most commonwealth countries. It is indeed a blast from the past!

Mary Emma at Quilting and Patchwork, provides a quiz for her readers.  See how many of the quilt designs you can connect with historical Americana - events, objects or people.

Marye at Baking Delights reflects on just how much menu’s have changed over the years while at Kettle and Cup she shares a modern twist that many are sure to love with her Non-Alcoholic Long Island Iced Tea

Kelly Saunders at Thrifty Mommy shares her favorite 4th of July memory - I just can’t spoil the surprise - check it out. 

Char and Christine continue Camp Weary Parent with this weeks Patriotic activities:  Star Spangled Rocket and a week full of other fun projects

Marcie and Mary Emma are blasting through books with Fourth of July and summer recommendations at One Book Two Book. Make sure to check out Fourth of July Books for Teens and The 10 Best Fourth of July Picture Books

Linette at Robust Cooking shares 10 Healthy 4th of July Dessert Ideas.  At Mother Earth’s Garden she calls out the old saying about corn - “Knee high by the fourth of July.”  At She Knows Parties, she shares fond memories of her summers and holidays as a child.

Karen at Thrifty Mommy probably has the most reason to celebrate the fourth as anyone I’ve heard - join Karen as she shares family photos of one of the most memorable nights in her families lives.

Sandy at All Holiday Cafe provides us with a list of when Independence Day is celebrated in various countries around the world.

Christina at SoloMother shares her own experiences of celebrating the 4th of July in the nations capital.

Susan at PlayLibrary shares her memories of playing the classic game of Zimm Zamm during her family’s annual July 4th barbecue celebration.

Eliza at Babylune reflects back on early holiday celebrations with baby on board and looks to this years celebration - their first out of the military.

And finally, there’s me - Gayla at MomGadget - Without fail, each year my memories race back to an earlier time when life was much simpler and we’d celebrate our summer holiday with relatives down in the holler in the hills of Kentucky - this year - I share a Bluegrass Kinda Fourth of July.

To all our readers in the U.S. - we wish you the happiest and safest of holidays - and everyone else, thanks for allowing us to share our own memories with each of you.

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