Tweens are difficult creatures to deal with.

Isn't this beautiful? I miss sharing things like this with you.

This is frost on our front door.....Mother Nature=best designer ever :)

Dear Pennsylvania,

I haven't felt much like writing you lately. I guess I am trying to distance myself. After we were "re-exploring" and then quickly decided against that I just feel like I have to step away.

I am wearing your sweat-pants and your shirt. It doesn't make me sad. They are just remnants of my old life at this point. My old life seems so distant from my current one. Tweens are difficult creatures to deal with. I have One who was thoroughly pissed off when I took his ipod away for being disrespectful and not doing the proper work on his social studies test.....he threw books around aggressively and made bratty comments about how terrible I was. So I made him go to Gram's to help her clean with me tonight(in addition the ipod being taken away) - mostly because I don't trust him in the house alone when I am gone. Two told me he spit on my toilet seat and that "he hates me". Ugh. And then I have Two who was not doing her best today - which is a rule with me, "always do your best". She was in tears when I was talking to her about guessing on her assignments AND math test instead of taking the time to do with the work. And then there is the non-tween, Three who won't eat anything healthy.....yesterday I felt like I was going to be charged with cruel and unusual punishment by making her eat four and half bites of spinach. Yikes. I am going to need to learn to start hiding those vegetables - I never thought I would need to stoop to that level.

Being a "parent" is not easy. Of course it is fun and rewarding. But very, very challenging. Some days I think I am a saint but most days I think I need kid lessons :)

After our day of homework and melt-downs, Two and I went to yoga and then we helped my Gram clean her "little boy's room", which is gross. Years of dust and who knows what piled up everywhere.

I have noticed I spend most of my time helping people - it used to be you, now it is my family. And I can't tell if that me making other people's problems mine because:

a. I am just avoiding figuring out my own life and what it is that I want to do with it, or

b. Helping people is what makes me happiest and that is okay.

c. a and b :)

In any case despite all the meltdowns I feel great typing you. As hard as it can be here, I am really happy to help.

Love

Wisconsin