School-aged Check-in (1/17)

[hawkward]

DS1 is okay. Monday was very very rough, but he's improved since then after a major CTJ talk. I'm having a hard time with he and H fighting all the damned time. They really get to each other (H has been touchy lately anyway), and I'm so sick of it. DS1 is always in defense mode the second H gets home from work, and it's like DS1 can do nothing right. H is a good dad, but he comes from a long line of abusive dads and he really struggles with things that seem so basic or instinctive to me. He's trying (which is the thing that makes him a good dad), but he's in a tough season for some reason. I don't know how to fix it. Nothing I'm trying is working. This sounds awful, but I'm actually looking forward to H's busy travel season at work coming up.

QOTW: I've forgotten a lot of what I knew about cars. For our 15th birthdays, my dad would buy us a junked car and then we would rebuild it with him to drive when we turned 16. I wish I knew how sew better. My mom is a talented seamstress and quilter, and so is my sister, and I... did not inherit that gene. I just want to be good at it without the learning phase.

[oldbaylover1024]

She's doing pretty well. We're also dealing with the attitude at home and it's exhausting. It's definitely not constant (yet), but she digs her heels in so deep... And MH doesn't handle it well these days either, hawkward. I don't know what's up with him, but he's been very edgy lately. Same as you, I'm looking forward to him doing more out of the house this weekend. He has fun plans with friends and I'm praying to all the gods that the weather doesn't cancel his plan. The man needs a night out!

Anyway, she SWAM at swim class this week!!! That's a HUGE milestone and she was sooooo proud of herself. She's been terrified of water forever, and seeing her swim all by herself was incredible. All the teachers applauded her and she earned a special ribbon. It was amazing.

How are you? Not great. Dealing with some personal stuff - it's in the infant thread. Otherwise, looking forward to the weekend!

QOTW: I wish I knew how to embroider. My mom is a talented seamstress and sewer, but she's especially good at embroidery. She made both my kids a small quilt with amazing detail. I should post pics. And with her being sick, she can't really sew anymore. I should do a project with her.

[hawkward]

oldbaylover1024, way to go, little bay! DS1 finds swimming terrifying too, and he has charmed the instructor into letting him get out of a lot of it. I have a feeling he'll be repeating this level. It's mildly annoying, but I figure he can't get enough positive older male role model attention (the instructor is a college aged boy), so I'm going with it.

It is SO FRUSTRATING when I want to be like "H, THIS BEHAVIOR IS YOUR FAULT!!1!" but united front and all. I call him out on his behavior later, and he promises he'll do better, and then he defaults to his normal shenanigans. I keep telling myself he's learning and doing better than his abusive asshole dad, but I get tired of always having to be the adult in the room. Ugh. Sorry.

Your mom would probably really love that! My aunt can't knit anymore due to arthritis, and sometimes I "collaborate" on a project with her, and she loves it.