Julie's Journal

MY LOVELY JULIE, I KNOW YOU ARE NEW TO OUR FAMILY AND IT MAKES ME SAID TO HEAR YOU FEEL SO ALONE. YOU ARE NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF JUSTIN HAS A PATERN TO DO THIS, IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALLOWED IT IN THE PAST. GOING TO SCHOOL AND BEIGN GOOD KIDS IS ALL YOU ASK OF THEM. YOU AND MICHAEL PROVIDE ALL THEIR NEEDS AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!! FOR HIM TO BE DISRESPECTFUL IS NOT NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR. I LOVE YOU, AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT A NEW CELL COMPANY. I WAS TROUBLED BY YOUR COMMENTS, SO I FEEL THAT I’M NOT OUT OF LINE WITH MY COMMENT. EVEN THOUGH UNCLE RICH BELIEVES THAT MY HOUSEHOLD SHOULD BE IN ORDER BEFORE YOU COMMENT ON ANYONE ELSES, THIS SITUATION I WILL NOT HAVE. I LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH NOT ONLY BECAUSE YOU PUT THAT TWINKLE IN MY GODSON’S EYE, YOU ARE A VERY NICE WOMEN THATS ALL I HAVE KWON ABOUT YOU, AND PERSONALLY EXPERIENCE BEING AROUND YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HUGS & KISSES NINA

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Do you think maybe that something is going on at school? Or maybe because Michael is gone?

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Thanks Nina. You are a very sweet woman, and we love you too!

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Lisa, he was like this all last year also, so I was really hoping for a fresh start. I don’t “think” it’s anything specific at school, and it’s not Michael being gone. He would have still done this with him home.

Discipline and step parenting is something that we truly need to work on in our family. There is a fine line there, and I know Michael is afraid to cross it, so he just doesn’t try. Does that make sense?

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Gee Julie I don’t really have any advice just ((hugs)). If you are satisfied that there is nothing physical wrong and nothing going on at school to cause Justin not to go can you make it really boring for him at home? Make sure that there is no TV or computer access? Not sure how practical that is but that is the first thing I’d try if it was my guys. Actually first I’d probably take them to the Dr. and agree to all the uncomfortable tests they wanted to run (but I don’t have to pay for them). I’d make sure I got them work from school and it was kept up with – not as a punishment but so they didn’t fall behind. I’d also consider hiring a “babysitter” if I couldn’t stay home with the explanation that if he was sick enough to be home I didn’t feel comfortable with him being home alone. Tyler used to get sick when he was stressed. He was young enough to think I still had a brain so was able to show him the evidence of the cause and effect and work on ways to deal with it. Teenagers don’t think we are that smart though so good luck with that.

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I’m so sorry your morning started out like that, Julie. I’ve experienced similar frustrations with Aric regarding school and it’s sent me into tailspins.

I have to really work on my detachment when those situations arise. It’s so hard when they’re still minors, though, because we’re ultimately responsible for them.

The tactic we’ve used with Aric is that going to school is required by law and that if he doesn’t go, WE get punished. That seems to help reality set in for him and he gets a little more reasonable.

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I’ve two boys, one three and one is…one. Everytime I hear a story like this, it makes me cringe to think of how this kind of thing would happen to me.

I do think that single moms face this more than two-parent households. Dads keep boys in line. My friends with single mom parents ALWAYS rode over their moms, said terrible things to them. I never would have thought to do half the things they did every day.

Thanks dad!

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Sad to hear, do not worry, it will get better.

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I’m sorry you are dealing with that now. I’m not sure how old your son is but it sounds like he and my stepbrother have the same kind of behavior. Would you feel better if I said he will grow out of it? My stepbrother is now a sweet kid, still a teenager but definitely a better behaved one. I hope your weekend is a good one!

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I swear to god this worked for me Julie. When he acts out .. cut off his hair. I know it sucks to think about doing but if he loves his hair .00000001% as much as I did when I was his age .. he will obey the Mom!

Heh .. My Mom had to cut off my hair three times. And I’m saying it was so super long and HOT. All the chicks dug the dew. Then I acted out one friggin time and BUZZZZZZZ off it went. That worked for a bit then it happened again. Hair was back and I acted out .. Single Mom though so she was tough .. BUZZZZZZZ off it went again. Third time was a charm and I grew it back for that third time and never had it cut other than to be trimmed again … Well till the Military got ahold of me!!!

Just a thought!

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I am a step father of a teen who REALLY hates going to school.

As an added complication, we have a home business with employees that show up about the same time he is supposed to leave for school.

I could write a book here, but I’m just going to add one point. There is a very specific truancy policy here and we let him stay home one day per month as long as he goes willingly the rest of the time. Suspicious illnesses get counted as the one day, too.

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{{{Julie}}} Sorry, I don’t have any advice, but I hope tomorrow is much better for you!

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